WASPI women edge closer to £3,000 compensation payments from DWP

WASPI women have edged closer to £3,000 compensation from the Labour Party government and Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ). A DWP Ombudsman report earlier this year encouraged the government to pay out compensation to women affected by historic injustices in the State Pension.

Now, a petition calling for compensation has edged closer to the 10,000 signature benchmark, at which point the government will be compelled to respond. WASPI told Birmingham Live: "We opened this petition on Thursday 21 November and we are already more than halfway towards being considered for a debate in Parliament.

"You will remember that the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) laid his report before parliament on 21 March 2024. Although the government have told us they are considering their response, it is now more than 9 months since the report was issued.

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"The petition is calling on the Government to fairly compensate WASPI women affected by the changes to the State Pension age and the associated failings in communications. Crucially it asks for an urgent response to the PHSO report and to set up a compensation scheme by 23 March 2025.

"With one WASPI woman dying every 13 minutes we can not wait indefinitely for the government to respond to this vital report." It added: "Anyone can sign this petition even if living abroad, however you have to be a British Citizen. There is a drop down box to select the country you live in.

"Please share as widely as you are able." The Ombudsman report encouraged the DWP to issue payouts worth £2,950 - but WASPI ladies want far higher compensation, and have pushed for eye-watering £10k sums from the government.

MPs backing the cause have previously urged for payments of £10,000 or above, too, as a "fair" compensation for those affected.