The WASPI women have been fighting for justice and compensation for the affected women due to the State Pension age change a decade ago. A few months ago, the Labour minister released the report agreeing with the pension age distress, but did not agree to the compensation.
Since the UK government has rejected the WASPI campaigners have been fighting to receive the compensation of up to £2,950. The WASPI women have released an update about their fight for compensation after the objection from the government.
The update is related to their crowdfunding and planning to request the High Court to look into the matter to issue the compensation as fast as possible. The Women involved in the WASPI campaign have taken a vow to fight legally rigorously.
| WASPI Compensation | £2950 |
| Latest Update | WASPI women have all already taken this matter to the court, with the government’s reluctance to compensate them |
| Who qualifies? | Women born between 06 April 1950 and 09 April 1960 and their family (if the woman is dead) |
| Fund Raised Until Now | £183,000 |
| New Target | £230,000 |
| Government Response | No Compensation for now |
| Official Website | https://www.waspi.co.uk/ |
Latest Update
The latest update coming from the WASPI women on their fundraising and the legal fight against the government to rule out their initial order not to consider the Ombudsman’s report released earlier, which favors the women affected due to the State pension age change.
According to the latest update, the WASPI confirms they have raised £183,000 through crowdfunding. They have shared that they are considering offering part of the fund to the government under the compensation cost cap, and the rest will be used to fight the legal battle to pay the legal representatives of the WASPI.
The WASPI members confirmed that they are trying to urge the government to initiate the compensation through judicial pressure. For the court to decide the cap based on affordability in accordance with the cost capping regulations, the organization has raised its crowdfunding goal to £230,000.
What has happened till now?
It’s more than a decade since the WASPI women have been fighting for justice and receiving compensation for financial hardships and emotional strain women have to go through due to the sudden pension age change in 2011.
2024 brought some hope for the WASPI women as the PHSO report supports the compensation based on the DWP’s maladministration of not informing the people associated with the change in law, or not taking their views into consideration before enacting any law. The DWP acknowledges its poor management and expresses regret for the more than a year delay in notifying women born in the 1950s about the state pension age increase.
The organization anticipated that the Labour administration would work on compensation when they came into power in July 2024, because the court had accepted the PHSO report. However, in December 2024, the Labour government stated it would not issue compensation, saying it would be unfair to use the taxpayer funds for compensation.
How much compensation?
According to the PHSO reports, the women affected due to the State pension age change should receive around £1000 to £2950 based on the financial distress caused to the women. The reports comprehend how the change in pension age and the failed communication have led many women who were near retirement age into distress.
Now, the WASPI women are also fighting for the £2950 compensation for each woman who was affected. The group claims some women have died waiting for justice and demands compensation for the victims’ families. According to the reports, if the compensation is around £2,950, it would cost the government around £10 billion to compensate all the affected women.
Women born between 06 April 1950 and 09 April 1960 can expect compensation if the group wins the judicial review and the government proceeds to compensate the WASPI women.
What’s Next?
After the government’s response to not agree with the Ombudsman’s remedy and compensation for 1950s-born women, the WASPI has taken the route to the Court, thanks to the funds they have raised through the fundraiser.
According to the WASPI group, their lawyer has written to the DWP about the notice of Acknowledgement of Service and Summary Grounds for resisting paying the compensation. Through this notice, the group will understand the DWP’s stance on the case.
The group confirms they have not received any notice yet, so they are waiting for the response. The group has confirmed that they are discussing things with their legal team on their strategy to fight for compensation based on the notice. Many MPs have supported the WASPI compensation, the Scotland politicians have also supported the compensation scheme, so let’s see what happens now.