Government Rejects Waspi Compensation, Campaigner Calls Decision ‘Disgraceful’

The government’s decision to deny compensation for women affected by alterations to the state pension age has been labeled a “disgrace” by a campaigner. Jill Robertson, a coordinator for the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign, based in Little Billing, Northamptonshire, expressed her reaction, stating: “”We’re devastated, it’s despicable.”” These adjustments, which harmonized the state pension age for women with that of men, are estimated to have impacted 3.6 million women born during the 1950s. Chancellor Rachel Reeves recognized the disappointment among campaigners, yet she highlighted an ombudsman’s finding that “around 90% of women did know these changes were coming”. Nevertheless, campaigners maintain that the women were not sufficiently notified. Ms Robertson commented: “We had been told [the current government] would be looking at [the changes,] and there was always this feeling that they would deal with it because the previous government had failed to do anything about it.” The parliamentary ombudsman had, nine months prior, proposed compensation ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 for the women affected. In contrast, the Waspi campaign has consistently called for individual payments of at least £10,000. Mary Jones, another Waspi member residing in Sywell, Northamptonshire, further stated: “We’ve done everything we can and I’m amazed the government hasn’t listened to the ombudsman. “That announcement completely shocked me.”” Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall offered an apology for a 28-month delay in informing women about the changes, but she dismissed the possibility of financial compensation, notwithstanding the ombudsman’s advice. The government contended that compensation could amount to £10.5bn, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer cautioning that it would “impose a further burden on the taxpayer”.