The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been in court, facing legal action over changes to the State Pension age for women. It comes amid growing outrage about it and the Labour Party government’s decision not to compensate the so-called WASPI women.
DWP: gross negligence towards the WASPI women
In 1995, the government enacted legislation to equalize the State Pension age for men and women, incrementally increasing women’s pension age from 60 to 65. This transition was later accelerated by the 2011 Pensions Act, causing some women to face up to a six-year delay in receiving their pensions.
Shockingly, the DWP failed to provide adequate and timely communication regarding these changes, leaving many women unaware of the significant impact on their retirement plans. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) conducted a comprehensive investigation and found that thousands of women were affected by the DWP’s failure to inform them adequately about the changes to the State Pension age.
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign, representing approximately 3.8 million affected women, has been tirelessly advocating for justice and compensation. Despite their relentless efforts, the government’s response has been nothing short of dismissive.
In December 2024, the DWP announced that it would not provide any compensation to the affected women, citing financial constraints and arguing that most women were aware of the changes—a claim that starkly contradicts the findings of the PHSO.
This callous decision has forced the WASPI campaigners to resort to legal action.
Legal action
In February 2025, they issued a “letter before action” to the DWP, challenging the government’s refusal to grant the recommended £10.5 billion in compensation.
As the Canary previously reported, the DWP’s response was wholly inadequate. So, on Monday 17 March WASPI women and their legal team officially filed for a judicial review at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
WASPI chair Angela Madden, said:
We do not want to be taking legal action, but we have been forced to, due to the Government’s total denial of justice.”
The government has an opportunity now to get around the table and engage meaningfully with us. If they don’t, they will have to continue to defend the indefensible, but this time in front of senior judges.
This legal move underscores the depth of the government’s failure to address the legitimate grievances of these women, many of whom have been plunged into financial turmoil due to the sudden and poorly communicated changes to their pension entitlements.
A betrayal
The government’s stance is not only a betrayal of these women but also a blatant disregard for the principles of fairness and accountability. The PHSO’s investigation highlighted DWP maladministration, yet the government has chosen to ignore these findings, further eroding trust in public institutions.
The affected women, many of whom have contributed to the workforce for decades, are now left to navigate financial uncertainty without the support they were rightfully promised.
The situation is further exacerbated by the government’s inconsistent messaging and broken promises. Prior to the 2019 general election, the Labour Party pledged to compensate the affected women, recognizing the injustice they had suffered.
However, upon gaining power, the party reneged on this commitment, leaving the WASPI women feeling betrayed and abandoned. This political duplicity has only deepened the sense of injustice and highlighted DWP unwillingness to rectify its mistakes.
The DWP in the dock
The DWP refusal to provide compensation not only undermines the findings of the PHSO but also sets a dangerous precedent for how it addresses its own failures. By dismissing the legitimate claims of the WASPI women, the government is sending a clear message that it is unwilling to take responsibility for its actions, even when they cause widespread harm.
This abdication of responsibility is unacceptable and must be challenged.
The WASPI women’s fight for justice is not just about financial compensation; it is about holding the government accountable for its failures and ensuring that such injustices are not repeated.
DWP inaction and its dismissive attitude towards these women reflect a broader pattern of neglect and indifference towards those who have been wronged by systemic failures. It is imperative that the government reevaluates its stance, acknowledges its mistakes, and provides the compensation that these women rightfully deserve.
Featured image supplied
