In an important development for women affected by pension age changes, a major debate is scheduled for Monday 17 March in Parliament. It is concerning the compensation for WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
This comes as a petition advocating for a compensation scheme has amassed an impressive 159,000 signatures, demonstrating the widespread support for this long-standing issue. the debate also comes as the WASPI women’s legal action continues to take shape. Meanwhile, the crowdfunder for this has hit nearly £160,000.
The DWP: finally, a parliamentary debate into WASPI compensation
The meeting will allow MPs to discuss the potential compensation payouts of up to £2,950 for these women, many of whom have faced financial hardship as a result of delayed state pension ages – thanks to the DWP and successive governments. Angela Madden, the chair of WASPI, expressed her anticipation for the debate, emphasising the need for a platform where more voices can be heard:
This is a debate resulting from a petition that we started some time ago. We’ve got a three-hour debate this time, which will allow a lot more people to speak… There wasn’t enough time in the last debate, in an hour and a half… It will be very interesting to see how that goes on Monday.
Roz Savage MP, representing the Petitions Committee, has been tasked with opening the debate. This marks a critical opportunity for MPs from various parties to express their views on the issue, with a government minister also set to respond, highlighting the importance of this discourse in the political arena.
The petition clearly outlines its demands, urging the DWP to provide fair compensation to WASPI women who have been adversely affected by the changing state pension age and the associated communications failures by successive governments. It states:
We call on the Government to fairly compensate WASPI women affected by the increases to their State Pension age and the associated failings in DWP communications.
The public supports this
The background of this urgent plea stems from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) report released in March 2024, which indicated that women born in the 1950s are owed not only financial support but also a formal apology for the maladministration by the DWP.
This call for justice has been echoed by the cross-party Work and Pensions Select Committee, alongside the support of hundreds of MPs and significant public backing, where polling indicates that 68% of the public stands in favour of compensation from the DWP.
Despite these clear findings, the government has been slow to act.
In its response to the petition, dated 9 December 2024, the government acknowledged the PHSO’s report but stated that a review is underway. The current DWP position does nothing to alleviate the growing frustration of those affected.
DWP: avoiding the issue while women die
The petition further emphasises the urgent need for action, declaring:
We want the Government to urgently respond to PHSO report and set up a compensation scheme by 21 March 2025.
This urgency is underlined by the staggering statistic that a woman affected by these changes dies every 13 minutes, a pointed reminder of the human impact behind the statistics.
As the conversation around this issue intensifies ahead of Monday’s debate, the plight of WASPI women continues to resonate with many in the UK.
With a larger forum for discussion and a significant number of supporters rallying behind the cause, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the mounting pressure for justice and compensation.
For many, this issue transcends mere figures and statistics; it represents the struggles and challenges faced by countless women who find themselves fighting for recognition and fair treatment after a lifetime of work.
Featured image via the Canary
