The legal battle for compensation has begun as the WASPI campaign escalates its fight against the UK government, demanding \u00a32,950<\/strong> for women born in the 1950s who were impacted by changes to the state pension age. Despite the Parliamentary Ombudsman\u2019s findings of injustice, the government has denied compensation, and legal action is now underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign is taking the UK government to the High Court, urging it to reconsider its stance on providing compensation for women whose state pension age was raised to 66, in line with men. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO<\/a>), these women had suffered significant hardship due to inadequate notice and communication about the pension age changes. The Ombudsman has suggested that compensation in the range of \u00a31,000 to \u00a32,950 per woman may be appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Angela Madden, chair of the WASPI <\/a>campaign, has voiced her frustration, emphasising that the women involved have been left with no other option but to pursue legal action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response to the growing legal pressure, the UK government has stated that it cannot justify a \u00a310bn compensation scheme. A government spokesperson explained that by 2006, 90% of women born in the 1950s were aware that the state pension age was set to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite this, the government admitted that there had been delays in informing the affected women, with a 28-month delay<\/strong> in some cases, and only one in four women recalling receiving unexpected letters about the change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the government’s position remains firm on the issue of compensation, the WASPI campaign has maintained its stance, stating that the legal battle is a necessary step to secure justice for those affected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Madden, the government now has an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, but failure to do so will only force the case into court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The debate over compensation has sparked reactions from various MPs. Ten Labour MPs supported a bill introduced by the SNP, calling for the government to act on the Ombudsman\u2019s findings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brian Leishman, one of the MPs backing the bill, has warned that without adequate compensation <\/a>measures, the Labour Party risks losing voter support and contributing to growing political dissatisfaction. Despite the political pushback<\/strong>, the government remains resolute in its stance, insisting that the \u00a310bn compensation package is unfeasible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n