WASPI campaigners say they have been vindicated after a crucial decision by the parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
Yesterday the PHSO said it had found maladministration in the way the Department for Work and Pensions had communicated changes to the state pension age for women.
Locally, the WASPI Argyll & Isles group has been active for over five years now, throughout the Argyll and Bute Westminster constituency area – here is a collage of some of their work.
Spokesperson Ann Greer said: “It’s time for the UK Government to fully compensate all 50s women affected by DWP State Pension Age maladministration.
“WASPI have been vindicated today by the PHSO’s report – we have waited long enough & time is of the essence for women in our 60s”
The ombudsman’s report stated: “Despite having identified more it could do, DWP failed to provide the public with as full information as possible.
“DWP failed to make a reasonable decision about next steps in August 2005. It did not ‘get it right’.
“And its failure to use feedback to improve service delivery meant it did not ‘seek continuous improvement’.”
The report. noted that it had taken the DWP 16 months to send letters to people affected, adding: “Affected women should have had at least 28 months’ more individual notice of the changes.
“For women who were not aware of the changes, the opportunity that additional notice would have given them to adjust their retirement plans was lost.”
The ombudsman’s next report will look at the impact of this injustice.
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