Official statements from the UK government or Parliamentary Ombudsman

UK Government Denies Compensation to 3.6 Million WASPI Women; Liz Kendall Cites £10.5 Billion Cost

Dec 17, 2024, 09:59 PM

The UK government has confirmed that it will not provide financial compensation to women born in the 1950s affected by changes to the state pension age, as announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall. This decision comes despite a recommendation from the Parliamentary Ombudsman for compensation due to inadequate communication regarding the pension age increase, which impacted approximately 3.6 million women. Kendall stated that the government concluded there should be no compensation scheme, asserting that these women 'suffered no direct financial loss' and that there was 'considerable awareness' of the changes. The announcement has sparked significant backlash from campaigners and opposition politicians, who have described the decision as a betrayal. Many argue that the government’s refusal to act on the Ombudsman’s findings leaves these women in hardship, with some estimates suggesting that individuals could have been owed between £1,000 and £2,950 in compensation. The government has defended its stance, claiming that a compensation scheme could impose an unfair burden on taxpayers, with potential costs reaching up to £10.5 billion. The decision has led to protests and expressions of disappointment from those advocating for the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign, emphasizing the perceived injustice of the situation.