As promised, here’s the latest on our legal challenge to seek justice for WASPI women. We want to keep you fully informed as the process moves forward.
What’s Happening Today – WASPI £2,950 Compensation Big Update
Our legal team expects to receive the Government’s “Notice of Acknowledgement of Service and Summary Grounds of Resistance.” That’s a formal way of saying they’re sending us their first official written response to the legal case we’ve raised.
This step is part of our judicial review process, which aims to hold the Government accountable for its handling of changes to women’s state pensions.
Can You Read the Government’s Response?
Right now, we’ve asked the Government for permission to publish these documents so everyone can see what’s being said in the case. We believe this is important for open justice and for the public to stay informed.
However, we expect that the Government might say “no.” If they do, we’ll ask the Court to grant a special Order that allows us to publish the defence. Our legal team at Bindmans has done this successfully in the past. You can read about that previous case in this article from The Guardian: Government must disclose documents – Guardian
What If We Can’t Share It Yet?
Until the Government gives us permission or the Court allows it, we won’t be able to say what’s in the defence documents. We understand this might be frustrating, but we are doing everything we can to make the process transparent.
You can read more about this step in Update 8 on our CrowdJustice fundraising page:
Visit the WASPI Justice Campaign on CrowdJustice
How You Can Support the Campaign
We’re still actively raising funds for our legal work. Every donation helps us stay in the fight for fairness. If you support the cause, please consider:
- Making a contribution if you can
- Sharing the CrowdJustice link with your friends, family, and colleagues
This is a people-powered campaign, and your help really makes a difference.
Today marks an important step in our journey toward justice. The Government has submitted its first formal defence, and while we may not be able to share the details just yet, we are doing all we can to make them public. We remain fully committed to this legal fight and deeply appreciate your continued support. Please keep spreading the word, and stay with us as we push forward for Justice for WASPI Women.
A Quick History of the WASPI Campaign
The 1995 and 2011 Pension Law Changes
In 1995, a new law increased the state pension age for women from 60 to 65 to match the age for men. This change was to be slowly introduced over ten years starting in 2010. However, another law passed in 2011 sped up the timeline, meaning some women suddenly had to wait up to six extra years to get their pension.
These sudden changes caught many women off guard. They had expected to retire at 60 but learned much later that they would need to work for longer. This caused huge stress, financial difficulties, and disrupted retirement plans.
Founding of WASPI
In 2015, five women who were affected by these changes came together to form the WASPI group. Their aim was not to undo the pension age change but to push the government to offer transitional support—in other words, payments to help women who were hit hardest. They also believe that women who already receive their pensions but had to wait longer should be compensated too.
Internal Changes in the Group
Over time, the group faced some internal leadership disagreements. Three of the original five founders stepped down in 2016. Later, in 2018, three more directors resigned after a board meeting where they could not agree on the way forward.
What Has WASPI Done?
Parliament Petition and Legal Action
WASPI started an online petition that received over 141,000 signatures. This led to a parliamentary debate about the pension age changes.
To take the fight further, the group crowdfunded £100,000 to get legal advice. In 2017, on International Women’s Day, they sent a formal letter to the Department for Work and Pensions, threatening legal action if the government didn’t offer support to the affected women.
Local and National Campaigns
WASPI isn’t just active online. Across the UK, local WASPI groups have spoken to their Members of Parliament (MPs), asking them to sign the WASPI pledge—showing their support for justice for 1950s-born women.
Government and Political Response
The issue gained national attention, especially during the 2017 General Election. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn brought it up during Prime Minister’s Questions. The Scottish National Party (SNP) also pledged their support for the women.
However, the Conservative government stood firm, saying that equalising the pension age was the fair and legal thing to do, and that it helped make the pension system more affordable for everyone. Some critics argued that WASPI’s demands were unfair and even sexist, as they challenged the idea of equal treatment for men and women.
In 2019, Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell promised £58 billion in compensation for all women born in the 1950s affected by the pension changes. However, Labour was not in power at the time, and this promise did not become law.
Ombudsman Investigation and Latest Developments
In March 2024, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman reviewed the situation by looking at the experiences of six affected women. It found that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) did not do enough to inform women about the changes. It said these women should receive between £1,000 and £2,950 as compensation for this “maladministration.”
The Ombudsman said the DWP should have sent personal letters between 2007 and 2012. Instead, many women only heard about the changes too late.
Despite these findings, on 17 December 2024, the Labour government rejected the Ombudsman’s recommendation, with Minister for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall stating that there was no clear evidence of direct financial loss, and therefore no compensation would be given.
The WASPI campaign is a powerful example of how ordinary citizens can unite for a common cause. While the government continues to defend its actions, the fight for justice for 1950s-born women is not over.
Whether or not financial compensation is ever paid, the campaign has brought huge public attention to how important it is for governments to communicate changes clearly and treat citizens fairly. The issue is about more than just money—it’s about fairness, trust, and accountability.
FAQ
What is WASPI and why was it formed?
WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) is a UK-based group formed in 2015 to campaign for fair treatment of women born in the 1950s who were affected by changes to the state pension age. The group believes the changes were poorly communicated, leaving many women unprepared for retirement.
What changes were made to the state pension age for women?
The 1995 and 2011 Pension Acts raised the state pension age for women from 60 to 65 to match men’s, with some women having to wait up to six extra years. The timeline was also accelerated, causing shock and financial strain for many.
Why are WASPI women asking for compensation?
WASPI women are not against equal pension ages but say the changes were not properly communicated. Many found out too late and couldn’t adjust their plans, leading to financial hardship. They are asking for fair compensation or transitional payments.
What did the Parliamentary Ombudsman say in 2024?
In March 2024, the Ombudsman said the government had committed ‘maladministration’ by failing to inform women properly. He recommended payments between £1,000 and £2,950 for affected women.
Is the government going to pay WASPI women compensation?
As of December 2024, the government rejected the Ombudsman’s recommendation, saying there was no clear evidence of direct financial loss and therefore no compensation would be paid.
