Campaigners fighting for compensation for the historic “injustice” of changes to pension ages have celebrated a significant breakthrough. The Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality) group announced that a crucial court ruling has advanced their cause.
Waspi is pursuing a judicial review to compel the Government to reconsider its decision to reject a compensation package for women affected by the manner in which changes to the state pension age were communicated.
A previous report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PSHO) recommended compensation ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 for each affected individual. However, in December 2024, the Government acknowledged the ombudsman’s finding of maladministration and apologised for the delay in notifying 1950s-born women, but deemed a blanket compensation scheme, potentially costing taxpayers £10.5 billion, unjustifiable.
In a recent update, Waspi stated: “We have some excellent news. Today the Court confirmed that a High Court Judge has granted permission for our case to proceed to a full judicial review hearing. The Judge determined that, as we have always known, our case is arguable and “ought to be considered at a final hearing”.
“This important milestone in the case shows that we were right to press ahead with our judicial review challenge. We look forward now to presenting our case at a full hearing in the High Court.”
The group announced that another crucial ruling is expected ‘in weeks’, which could decide whether the legal challenge can proceed. Waspi has submitted an application for a Cost Capping Order, stating: “As we have previously explained, a cost capping order is absolutely vital for our case, as it means the costs the Government can recover from us will be limited if we do not succeed at the final hearing.
“The outcome of this interim hearing will be critical to whether we can take our claim all the way without the risk of paying unlimited and unknown costs to the Government if we don’t win. We will keep you updated about that interim hearing and share with you any documents we can in due course.
“Now that we have crossed this important hurdle, we need to raise further funds to cover the costs of the next stage in the case. As you know, we set our stretch target to £230,000 back in April and we are some way off meeting that target. We appreciate that you have all donated generously to date and if you are willing to do so, we would be very grateful for any further donations you, your friends, relatives and colleagues could make towards our fighting fund.”
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Earlier this year, a debate was held in parliament following a petition with 160,000 signatures, demanding the Government to “fairly compensate” Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaigners.
A report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has put forth a recommendation that women born in the 1950s, affected by the equalisation of the state pension age, should be compensated by the UK Government.
The watchdog advocated for payments up to £2,950 per person, with the estimated total burden on taxpayer funds reaching £10.5 billion, citing inadequate communication resulted in lost opportunities for these women to plan their retirement finances properly. Despite backing from prominent figures such as Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves for the Waspi campaign while they were in the opposition, the Government dismissed compensation plans last December.
Labour MPs voiced their denouncement of the former Tory government’s inaction during a Westminster Hall debate, restating their allegiance to the cause of the campaigners.
Patricia Ferguson, the Labour MP representing Glasgow West and herself among over 4,000 Waspi women in her area, confessed her anticipation and desire for parliamentary action on the ombudsman’s recommendations and expressed her dismay at the lack of progress. She remarked: “I cannot say how disappointed I am that it did not happen. But I say gently to the minister that it is not too late to put it right.”
Michelle Scrogham, representing Barrow and Furness for Labour, emphasised: “There is still time to deliver a fair and equitable compensation package for these women. This is the time to right this wrong.”
Waspi chairwoman Angela Madden has voiced her reluctance towards legal confrontation, stating: “We do not want to be taking legal action, but we have been forced to due to the Government’s total denial of justice.”
The legal representatives for the campaigners argue that the Government’s rationale for denying any form of redress violates fundamental legal principles.