New petition from Women Against State Pension Inequality calls for State Pension age compensation scheme by March for all women

A fresh online petition has been launched by the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign (WASPI), urging the UK Government to "fairly compensate" women born in the 1950s who have been impacted by changes to their State Pension age. The petition also demands that the UK Government "urgently respond" to the recommendations in the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's (PHSO) final report, by March 21, 2015.

This deadline will mark a year since the Ombudsman released the results of its six-year probe into complaints lodged against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The report concluded that affected women born in the 1950s should have received at least 28 months' more individual notice from the DWP about the alterations to their State Pension age.

The PHSO also stated that for women who were unaware of the changes, the chance that additional notice would have provided them to adjust their retirement plans was lost due to delay. The report asserted that "Parliament must urgently identify a mechanism for providing that appropriate remedy" and suggested compensation equivalent to Level four on its banding scale, which is worth between £1,000 and £2,950.

READ MORE: Waspi pension compensation update due in 'near future' says prime minister

However, despite repeated calls from across the House and campaign groups, there has been no progress on a compensation plan. .

Both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kensall have promised an update on a potential compensation plan will be announced "soon" or in the "near future", but neither could provide a specific date, reports the Daily Record.

Thousands have already signed an e-petition on the official UK Government website, posted by WASPI campaign director Jane Cowley on Thursday evening. The 'Introduce a compensation scheme for WASPI women' petition states: "We call on the Government to fairly compensate WASPI women affected by the increases to their State Pension age and the associated failings in DWP communications."

"We want the Government to urgently respond to PHSO report and set up a compensation scheme by 21 March 2025."

Ms Cowley added: "In March 2024, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman said 1950s-born women were owed financial redress and an apology due to DWP maladministration."

"The Ombudsman's findings were backed by the cross-party Work and Pensions Select Committee, hundreds of MPs and, according to our polling, 68 per cent of the public. However, only the Government has the power to put this injustice right."

The petition concludes on a sombre note, highlighting the stark reality for women affected by changes to their State Pension age: "We have calculated that with one affected woman dying every 13 minutes, there is no time for further delay."

Once the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, it is entitled to a written response from the UK Government. If it hits 100,000 signatures, the Pensions Committee will consider it for a debate in Parliament.

The full petition can be viewed on the petitions-parliament website.