About our Waspi Women news
Latest news on WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality), covering state pension age changes, compensation claims, and updates for 1950s-born women affected by reforms.
WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) represents approximately 3.6 million women born in the 1950s who were affected by changes to the state pension age. Founded in 2015, this voluntary UK organisation campaigns for compensation for women who had their pension age increased from 60 to 65, and later to 66, with many discovering these changes with little or no notice.
In a significant development on 17 December 2024, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall rejected compensation payments for WASPI women, despite the Parliamentary Ombudsman's recommendations. While apologising for a 28-month delay in sending notification letters, Kendall argued that research showed 73% of women aged 45-54 were aware of the changes, and that earlier letters would not have significantly impacted retirement planning. The government concluded that a compensation scheme costing up to £10.5 billion would not be "a fair or proportionate use of taxpayers' money."
The WASPI campaign has galvanised communities across Britain, with local groups actively campaigning and raising awareness. Their petition to Parliament garnered 141,000 signatures, leading to parliamentary debates. The campaign successfully crowdfunded £100,000 for legal action and has received support from various political figures, though the compensation issue remains contentious.
The roots of this issue trace back to the 1995 Pensions Act, which increased women's state pension age to 65 to match men's, with changes to be implemented from 2010. The 2011 Pensions Act accelerated this timeline, affecting millions of women's retirement plans. The campaign argues that while they don't oppose pension age equalisation, the way changes were implemented and communicated was unfair and caused significant hardship.
Our NewsNow feed provides comprehensive coverage of the WASPI campaign's developments, including government responses, parliamentary debates, and grassroots activism. Whether you're directly affected by the pension changes or interested in this significant social justice issue, stay informed with our regularly updated news from reliable sources across the UK.