WASPI campaigners are calling for compensation payouts(Image: Getty)

WASPI women told 'compensation could be paid soon' in fresh DWP update

14 Nov 2024, 16:02 by Kate Lally · ChronicleLive

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall has indicated to campaigners from Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) that the lengthy battle over their compensation could be nearing a conclusion, stating resolution might come "soon". She provided this fresh update during her addressing of the Work and Pensions Committee on Wednesday, November 13.

Having suffered disrupted retirement plans due to alterations to their state pension age, WASPI women are eager for progress, and they may have had some hope rekindled following MP Kendall's response to questions from Horsham Lib Dem MP John Milne. Milne highlighted: "Really appreciate that you've taken rapid action on the infected blood scandal and the Horizon scandal to sort out compensation there. WASPI women, however, a noticeable absence of, shall we say, these hang-overs from the last administration."

He further pressed, "I think what people would really like to know is when do you think you can address it... be it next year or, what plans do you have? ".

Responding, Liz Kendall expressed her desire to move forward "as soon as possible", acknowledging the prolonged issue: "I know how long this issue has taken, even the Ombudsman took six years to do his report [and then] it wasn't responded to by the previous government. I know, and I know there are some of the WASPI women here today in the committee, I met the WASPI campaign when I was a shadow Secretary of State, the Pensions Minister has met the campaigners, I think the first minister to do so for six years or longer."

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"I want this resolved as quickly as possible but this is, again, extremely complicated, lots of information to go through and we need to get it right, but I want this resolved as soon as possible.", reports Leicestershire Live.

MP Milne pressed for a "timescale", only to receive the response: "I can't give you any more, if I gave you a date then I'd have sorted it. It needs to be sorted [and] I will do it as soon as humanly possible."

WASPI women were informed with little warning that their State Pension age would be raised by over five years. While campaigners are not opposed to the principle of equalisation, they "do not accept the unfair way the changes to our pensions were implemented with inadequate or no notice".

Despite an Ombudsman's report issued over six months ago recommending compensation ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 for each WASPI woman

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and urging Parliament to "act swiftly" to distribute the funds, no compensation has been paid out to date.