Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group accused ministers of showing them “utter contempt”

Women affected by changes to the state pension age reacted angrily today after ministers again rejected calls for compensation.

This was announced despite ministers reviewing this issue following the discovery of previously unseen documents impacting the so-called “Waspi” women.

Campaigners say about 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were not properly informed when the state pension age was raised and equalised with that of men. 

The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group said the latest refusal showed “utter contempt” for those affected.

Angela Madden, the group’s chair, said the government had “kicked the can down the road for months, only to arrive at exactly the same conclusion it has always wanted.”

She described the decision as a disgraceful political choice that dismissed the harm and injustice suffered by millions of women.

In 2024 the ombudsman recommended that compensation be paid

In 2024, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recommended compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 for those impacted, but the watchdog cannot enforce its recommendations, and the government rejected the proposal.

Ministers reviewed their stance after a 2007 survey, not previously shared with then work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall, came to light. 

Her successor, Pat McFadden, said checks would be carried out to ensure no other documents had been overlooked.

The government said most women were aware of the changes due to extensive public information campaigns. It said a flat-rate compensation scheme could cost up to £10.3 billion and would not be fair, while individual payments would be impractical to deliver.