A petition on behalf of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign is calling on the Government to put forward a compensation package to Parliament.
Some 3.8 million women born in the 1950s found themselves detrimentally impacted by historic changes to the state pension age due to “maladministration” from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Last year, the Parliament and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found that Britons were not adequately informed of how they would be impacted by state pension equalisation between the sexes.
As such, many women were unable to sufficiently prepare enough for retirement which has led to Waspi campaign lobbying for compensation.
A follow-up report from the PHSO determined that women impacted by the state pension age change may be entitled to a Level 4 payout which comes to between £1,000 and £2,750.
However, the ombudsman left it up to MPs to decide and vote on what the correct compensation package would be for Waspi women.
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A petition is calling for compensation for Waspi women
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Jane Cowley is among the women demanding fair and fast compensation from the Government and has started a petition as part of her call to action.
So far, the petition has close to 35,000 signatures but it requires 100,000 to be debated by MPs in Parliament. It is called: “Introduce a compensation scheme for Waspi women.”
The petition statement reads: “We want the Government to urgently respond to PHSO report and set up a compensation scheme by March 21, 2025.
“In March 2024, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman said 1950s-born women were owed financial redress and an apology due to DWP maladministration.
“The Ombudsman’s findings were backed by the cross-party Work and Pensions Select Committee, hundreds of MPs and, according to our polling, 68 per cent of the public. However, only the Government has the power to put this injustice right.
“We have calculated that with one affected woman dying every 13 minutes, there is no time for further delay.”
According to the Waspi campaign, 300,000 women have passed away since the fight for compensation began.
Angela Madden, the chair of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), said: “As the clock ticks down to the polls opening, Labour and Conservatives are in the final hour to win over the votes of 3.6 million women.
“We are grateful to the many candidates in all parties who have responded positively, but a new government needs to move from warm words to concrete actions.
“With one Waspi woman dying every 13 minutes, we will be using our votes to demand justice for all those who have been so badly let down.”
On the PHSO’s report, a DWP spokesperson said: “This was a serious report, requiring serious consideration.
“We will continue to listen respectfully to the women involved, and ensure we take on board any lessons learnt.”
