WASPI WOMEN DENIED JUSTICE AGAIN AS COMPENSATION RULED OUT

Later Life Ambitions (LLA) has condemned the Government’s decision to once again rule out compensation for women affected by changes to the State Pension age, despite clear findings of maladministration by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told Parliament that a targeted compensation scheme would not be practical, arguing that most 1950s-born women were already aware of the changes through public information campaigns, and that a flat-rate scheme could cost more than £10 billion.

Sally Tsoukaris, General Secretary of the Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance and a spokesperson for Later Life Ambitions, said: “The Government’s decision to deny compensation for a second time will be a bitter blow to the many women who have already waited far too long for justice.

“While ministers insist the issue has been re-examined, the outcome once again ignores the PHSO’s clear findings that women were let down by poor communication and inadequate notice.”

She added that the decision comes as older people face growing financial pressure, such as frozen tax thresholds that risk dragging more pensioners into paying tax.

“Older people have borne the brunt of too many short-sighted decisions,” Tsoukaris said. “Refusing to act on this injustice, despite repeated reviews and apologies, sends a worrying signal that the Government is still not prepared to listen to those in later life.”

LLA said the issue also highlights wider inequalities, with women typically retiring with around 35% less pension wealth than men. Its Budget for Later Life calls for reforms to close the gender pension gap by valuing unpaid caring work, expanding National Insurance credits and ensuring workplace pensions work for low-paid and part-time women.