DWP issues warning to state pensioners born between 1950 and 1959

DWP issues warning to state pensioners born between 1950 and 1959

by · Birmingham Live

The Department for Work and Pensions has issued an urgent state pension warning to all women born between 1950 and 1959.The DWP has been urged to respond to the recommendations in the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's final report on compensation for millions of women.

Lord Davies of Brixton spoke out in the Lords, urging MPs to "recognise the case for urgency" in addressing the Ombudsman report which called for compensation payments and payouts worth £2,950 from the Department for Work and Pensions for women affected.

He highlighted that the ongoing delay "is leaving the people affected prey to scammers, who are offering to assist them in making claims" and stressed that "this issue needs to be resolved as quickly as practical".

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The Labour peer also pointed out that the Ombudsman "made it clear that these women suffered from maladministration and that they are entitled to redress". Baroness Sherlock, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for DWP, said: "To be absolutely clear, because there has been no response to the report, there is no compensation scheme.

"Anyone claiming to offer it is scamming and nobody should touch it - please can that message go out loud and clear." She says the Labour Party government is "looking very closely at the findings of the ombudsman and will respond as soon as is practicable".

Angela Madden, chair of WASPI, welcomed the update but said questions should be asked about the time it was taking to resolve the issue. She said: “The Government was right to announce compensation for victims of the infected blood and Post Office scandals in the Budget. However, Waspi women are also right to question why they are still awaiting justice after nine long years of campaigning.

“We can see that ministers are taking this report seriously and look forward to seeing what proposals they bring before MPs as quickly as possible.”