WASPI women to get State Pension age change compensation update 'soon' from DWP
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has confirmed that she will resolve the issue of State Pension age compensation for WASPI women (Women Against State Pension Inequality) “as soon as possible”. Liz Kendall told the Work and Pension Committee on Wednesday that it is “extremely complicated” and there is “lots of information to go through” but that the UK Government “needs to get it right”.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) boss faced questions on a range of topics during her first meeting with the cross-party group of MPs, chaired by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, but it was Liberal Democrat MP John Milne who pressed for a timetable for millions of women born in the 1950s affected by changes to their State Pension age.
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Mr Milne said: “Really appreciate that you’ve taken rapid action on the infected blood scandal and the Horizon (Post Office) scandal to sort out compensation there, WASPI women, however, are a notable absence of these ‘hangovers’ from the last administration so I think what people would really like to know is when do you think you can address it? Next year? What plans do you have?”
Ms Kendall responded: “I want to respond to this as soon as possible. I know how long this issue has taken - I think even the Ombudsman took six years to do his report. It wasn’t responded to by the previous government.”
The DWP boss acknowledged the presence of some of the WASPI women at the meeting before adding: “I met the WASPI campaign when I was a shadow Secretary of State for work and pensions. The Pensions Minister (Emma Reynolds MP) has met the campaign as I think the first minister to do so for six years or longer, so I want this resolved as quickly as possible but again, this is extremely complicated.
“Lots of information to go through and we need to get it right, but I want this resolved as soon as possible.”
The Horsham MP then asked about a timescale. Ms Kendall responded: “I can’t give you anymore. If I gave you a date then I would have sorted it, and it needs to be sorted, but I will do it as soon as humanly possible.”
A report published in March by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found that affected women born in the 1950s should have had more individual notice of changes to their State Pension age. The report stated that “Parliament must urgently identify a mechanism for providing that appropriate remedy” and recommended compensation equivalent to Level four on its banding scale, which is worth between £1,000 and £2,950.
During DWP questions in Parliament on November 11, Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling also pressed the DWP for a timescale on a response to the Ombudsman’s report.
He said: “I am sure all Members in this Chamber are aware of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign and the parliamentary ombudsman’s findings. Will the Secretary of State (Liz Kendall) commit to making a statement in the House before Christmas on progress with her review of the Ombudsman’s report?”
Responding to the Lib Dem work and pensions spokesperson, Pensions minister Emma Reynolds told the Commons: “The Ombudsman took six years to consider a range of complex cases, and we are looking at their complexity. I was the first Minister in six years to meet representatives of the WASPI campaign.
“We hope to be able to update the House in the coming weeks.”
Last month, Ms Reynolds confirmed that the DWP have been “considering the costs of setting up a compensation scheme” for women born in the 1950s affected by changes to their State Pension age.
