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The WASPI cause is gathering support with a group of MPs urging for a “proper plan” for compensation to be set out by the Government.
An early day motion was set up shortly after the new Labour Government was formed, calling on ministers to “come forward with a proper plan to compensate” the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) generation of women.
The 1950s-born women were affected when the state pension for women increased from 60 to 65, as many did not know of the change and so did not have time to prepare and were forced to continue working for several more years.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has established there was “maladministration” with how the DWP advised the women of the change, with a report from the ombudsman in March saying the WASPI women should get compensation payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950.
It’s for the Government to decide whether or not to grant payouts and at what amount, with campaigners hoping for payouts of £10,000 or more, which is the top level of compensation as recommended by the PHSO.
The early day motion has been signed by all MPs from four political parties, including the Liberal Democrats, the SDLP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party.
The campaign has also been signed by several Labour MPs, two SNP members and Conservative MP Sir Julian Lewis.
An early day motion is a motion that has been put forward for debate in Parliament, with a date yet to be fixed for the issue to be aired.
Few early day motions are debated, but there is optimism this could be different. The WASPI issue has been mentioned many times by MPs in the Commons, with a debate about the issue back in May this year.
The full motion reads: “That this House notes with concern the losses borne by 1950s women as a result of maladministration by the Department for Work and Pensions; welcomes the findings of the independent inquiry of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman; further notes that on average over 100 1950s born women die daily, many of whom have suffered losses and die without compensation; and urges the Government to honour the recommendations of the Ombudsman, and come forward with a proper plan to compensate these women.”
The WASPI campaigners have been recently raising their case with MPs at the Labour Party conference, with campaigners also attending the Labour and Reform UK conferences.
WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden said previously: “It’s in the Ombudsman’s report: we didn’t get sufficient information, we weren’t informed correctly of the impact of pensions changes on us.
“The Ombudsman has said we deserve compensation and an apology. That is quite clear.”
The campaign group will be in action again on October 30 for Budget Day, when they will hold a demonstration outside Parliament.