WASPI handed major update over compensation with hopes of £10,000 from DWP

WASPI handed major update over compensation with hopes of £10,000 from DWP

by · Birmingham Live

WASPI campaigners are hoping for compensation worth £10,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). WASPI campaigners want support from a newly-formed committee in Parliament which will be chaired by Debbie Abrahams.

The previous committee supported compensation payouts for women born in the 1950s and affected by the change in state pension age. WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaigners believe the person chosen to chair the new committee chair is vital.

WASPI chair, Angela Madden, explained: "Debbie Abrahams has put herself forward to be chair of the Work and Pensions Committee. She’s a good supporter of WASPI." Ms Maddenwent on and said: "First of all, you get the chairs elected, then all the members have to be elected. It takes a bit of time.

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"That will happen after conference season. So it’s the second week in October by the time they get round to that. By the end of October, the committee should be in place. Then, in November, they might actually start working."

The campaign group are calling for compensation for 1950s-born women whose retirement plans were suddenly thrown into the air when the state pension age for women increased from 60 to 65, to bring it in line with the age for men. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman established the DWP did not do enough to properly notify the women about the change, in a brutal and injust blow to them.

The watchdog recommended compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950, but the Government has to decide whether to grant payouts and how to structure them. Campaigners hope to get more with some MPs formerly backing the cause calling for payments of £10,000 or above.

The legislation was due to have its second reading in Parliament before the General Election was called. Ms Madden added: "The way Labour MPs will change their mind, if they don't support [the WASPI cause], is if their constituents ask them to."