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WASPI women fighting for compensation from the DWP over a change to state pension age have been given a lifeline today after MPs set a deadline in the latest development in Parliament.
Campaigners have been fighting for compensation for what they say was an unfair increase of the state pension age for women from 60 to 65 and then 66 without sufficient notice to allow them to plan for retirement properly.
Today, MPs held a much anticipated debate in Parliament on the issue of WASPI compensation, which could be as much as £2,950 per woman affected paid out by the DWP.
Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford pressed for compensation to be put in place before the House of Commons rises for the summer recess on July 23.
It follows a report on Women’s State Pension age which pushed for compensation at ‘level four’, ranging between £1,000 and £2,950, for each of those affected.
During the backbench debate on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) report, it was said the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women suffered a “gross injustice” because of poor administration from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Mr Blackford, MP for Ross said: “The DWP has to play a part in bringing forward proposals for a financial redress scheme to Parliament before the summer recess and these proposals must be amendable.
Conservative MP Peter Aldus and co-chairman of the State Pension Inequality for Women All-Party Parliamentary Group, also pushed for the issue to be resolved by July 23, adding: “Most importantly, any process must clear the parliamentary process before the summer recess.
“We do not have long. We have less than nine weeks of parliamentary time before recess.
“This means within days the DWP must come forward with proposals.
“Finite resources are not an excuse for failing to provide a fair remedy. If Parliament chooses to do nothing, that will undermine the ombudsman. The DWP should respect what Parliament recommends.”
