WASPI campaign outlines next steps as DWP to reconsider compensation decision

The WASPI campign has spoken about what will happen next after the DWP announced it would retake its decision on how to resolve the issue. The campaigners have fought for over a decade for compensation payouts for 1950s-born women, but the Government announced at the end of 2024 there would be no payouts.

In announcing the decision last year, previous Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall made the case that it would have made little difference for the DWP to write letters to the women sooner, to let them know their state pension age was increasing from 60 to 65. This was despite a previous report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman finding there were major mistakes by the DWP, and they should have wrote to the women sooner.

The watchdog recommended payouts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told the Commons this week [November 11] the DWP will now "retake the decision" as new evidence has come to light.

Explaining what the new evidence relates to, the minister told the Commons: "As part of the legal proceedings challenging the Government's decision, evidence has been cited about research findings from a 2007 report.

"That was a DWP evaluation of the effectiveness of automatic pension forecast letters. Had this report been provided to my right hon. Friend [Liz Kendall] she would of course have considered it alongside all other relevant evidence and material.

"In the light of this, and in the interests of fairness and transparency, I have concluded that the Government should now consider this evidence. That means we will retake the decision made last December as it relates to the communications on state pension age."

This raises questions for a judicial review of the DWP's decision not to grant compensation, which is set to take place in December. WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden said that the judicial review will still go ahead.

WASPI campaigners will write to the high court

She said: "I know the Government have written to the courts and said it's now no longer needed [the judicial review] but we are about to write to the court with our issues about what's happening.

"The key things are, the case has exposed that critical information was withheld from ministers when the most important decision was made. Is this the only critical information? Are they just going to take this survey and add it to what they already have, or is it a proper rethink?"

Ms Madden said she thinks the Government needs to start afresh in issuing a new decision. She also said the judicial review may still be needed even now the DWP has withdrawn its decision.

She said: "Generally, when you come to any kind of out of court settlement, there's a conversation between both sides and you agree things. That's not happened in this case and because that's not yet happened, we think the December hearing might still be needed."

The high court can overturn the DWP's decision not to grant compensation, although this does not guarantee payouts for the women. The DWP has been asked for comment.

The judicial review is set to take place on December 9 and 10.