WASPI campaign launches new petition demanding State Pension age compensation by March

The Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign (WASPI) has launched a new online petition that calls on the UK Government to fairly compensate women born in the 1950s

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

This date marks one year since the Ombudsman released the findings of its six-year probe into complaints against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The report concluded that women born in the 1950s should have received at least 28 months' more individual notice from the DWP about the changes to their State Pension age.

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

READ MORE: WASPI pension update as Keir Starmer hints long-running saga could end soon

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 hinted that an update on any compensation proposal for WASPI women will be made "soon" or in the "near future" but stopped short of confirming any specific dates. The e-petition demanding compensation, launched by WASPI campaign director Jane Cowley, has already garnered thousands of signatures since its posting on the official UK Government website last Thursday evening, reports the Daily Record.

The petition, titled 'Introduce a compensation scheme for WASPI women', reads: "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."

It also demands: "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."

She further highlighted the support for the cause, stating: "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 with a grim reminder of the urgency needed, noting: "We have calculated that with one affected woman dying every 13 minutes, there is no time for further delay."

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

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