Overview
- Local WASPI groups have written to all election candidates before the May 7 polls asking them to say if they support compensation for women affected by state pension age changes.
- New county-by-county estimates highlight potential redress totals if the Ombudsman’s approach is used, including up to £342,760,500 for 116,190 women in Hampshire and Solent.
- Lawyers for the campaign sent letters earlier this month alleging legal errors in the government’s stance on compensation, a move that could trigger a second High Court judicial review.
- Ministers have ruled out a blanket scheme on cost and complexity grounds, and the Pensions Minister has defended the position in Parliament as addressing communication failures rather than pension policy.
- The Ombudsman found maladministration over how the changes were explained and suggested payments of about £1,000 to £2,950 per person, with roughly 3.5 million women affected and some given only 12 months to prepare for an increase of up to six years.