Parliamentary records or official announcements

UK Government Denies £10.5 Billion Compensation to 3.6 Million WASPI Women Affected by Pension Age Changes, Says Liz Kendall

Dec 18, 2024, 08:55 AM

The UK government has announced that it will not provide compensation to women born in the 1950s affected by changes to the state pension age, a decision confirmed by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall. Despite a recommendation from the Parliamentary Ombudsman for compensation, the government argues that the costs, estimated at up to £10.5 billion, would not be a fair use of taxpayers' money. Approximately 3.6 million women have claimed they were not adequately informed about the rise in pension age from 60 to 65. Liz Kendall stated that the government concluded there should be no financial compensation, citing that the majority of those affected were aware of the changes. The decision has drawn significant backlash from campaigners and some Labour MPs, who accuse the government of betraying the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women. Critics have described the ruling as a historic injustice, with calls for a reconsideration of the decision intensifying in the wake of public outcry.