Compensation recommended for ‘WASPI’ women does not go far enough, campaigners have said.
This week the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) published a long-awaited report, saying the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had failed to adequately communicate changes to women’s state pension age.
Ann Greer, co-founder and coordinator of WASPI Argyll and Isles, said she agreed with chief executive of the PHSO Rebecca Hilsenrath that women had been ‘financially disempowered’ by DWP maladministration and it was ‘critical’ they received compensation.
“Many 1950s-born women made decisions we may not have made, had we known earlier that our state pension age was to rise by up to six years,” she said.
“I was 58 when some of us travelled down to Westminster, to a massive WASPI protest, and will be in receipt of state pension in a few days.
“A huge amount of energy and time, which could have been spent on other things, has been taken up by this campaign for the last eight years and only compensation can help us now.
“We welcome the Ombudsman’s report, which is damning about failings by the DWP, but the recommendation for compensation does not go far enough. It needs to be a serious offer.”
The ombudsman’s report followed a 67-month investigation and recommends the 3.6m affected women be paid compensation for DWP’s failures but hands MPs a pivotal role in determining the final package.
Ms Hilsenrath said: “The UK’s national Ombudsman has made a finding of failings by DWP in this case and has ruled that the women affected are owed compensation.
“DWP has clearly indicated that it will refuse to comply. This is unacceptable.
“Parliament now needs to act swiftly, and make sure a compensation scheme is established. We think this will provide women with the quickest route to remedy.”
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