The Woman Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign has recently issued a scam alert to thousands of people across the country in response to allegations of fraudulent compensation claims.
Campaigners are warning women to be wary of a "deeply concerning" increase in unfounded forms targeting women online, which may cost pensioners thousands of pounds.
WASPI Women Warned of Scam Websites Promising State Pension Age Compensation
In the past few days, many unofficial websites have surfaced claiming that women affected by previous changes to the state pension age can receive up to £2,950 in compensation, depending on their circumstances.
According to the Waspi campaign, the sites in question appear to be from outside the UK, implying that women born in the 1950s can get payouts by filing online compensation claims.
In 2021, the Parliament and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) culpable of "maladministration" in its handling of state pension age equalisation for men and women.
Earlier in the year, the ombudsman advised that women affected by the change be entitled to a Level 4 government reimbursement ranging from £1,000 to £2,950.
However, the PHSO stated that it was the role of MPs to vote on and establish a compensation figure in Parliament, which has yet to be done.
Waspi women have criticised both Labour and the Conservative Party for failing to include a reparation provision in their respective manifestos.
Campaigners are warning the 3.8 million people affected by past changes to be wary of potential frauds now that compensation has been provided.
Waspi Chair Angela Madden stated that it was "deeply concerning" that a number of websites were enticing consumers affected by the changes to disclose their personal information with unknown entities.
She stated that the official announcement of a compensation system for Waspi women must come directly from the UK government.
Despite three months passing since the PHSO's last report and no decision made by ministers, such a scheme does not exist.
More than 3.6 million women born in the 1950s are thought to have been affected because the DWP failed to adequately convey rises in their pension age.
According to campaigners, the hardest hit received only 18 months' notice of a six-year hike in their state pension age, plunging tens of thousands into poverty.
Madden stated: “It is deeply concerning that a number of webpages have appeared in recent days, encouraging those impacted by state pension age changes to provide their personal details through fake claim forms.
“The need for compensation is so urgent that it is the most vulnerable women who are most at risk and the Government’s continued dithering is now opening up a space for scammers to target them.
“Any official announcement on compensation will be made by the UK Government. Anybody who has given their personal data to a potentially fraudulent website should contact Action Fraud.”
DWP Responds to Pension Age Criticism with Assurance of Commitment
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has responded to recent scrutiny over the handling of state pension age adjustments. A spokesperson affirmed that they are carefully reviewing the findings of the Ombudsman’s report and plan to issue a comprehensive response in due course.
A spokesperson for the DWP told GB News: “We are considering the Ombudsman’s report and will respond in due course, having cooperated fully throughout this investigation.
“The Government has always been committed to supporting all pensioners in a sustainable way that gives them a dignified retirement whilst also being fair to them and taxpayers.
“The state pension is the foundation of income in retirement and will remain so as we delivered a further 8.5 per cent rise this month, increasing the state pension for 12 million pensioners. This has seen the full rate of the new state pension rise by £900."