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WASPI update as calls grow for DWP to award ‘fair compensation’ | Personal finances | Finance

WASPI update as calls grow for DWP to award ‘fair compensation’ | Personal finances | Finance

Pressure is mounting for the Government to finally act and decide whether or not to grant compensation to the generation of WASPI women.

WASPI (Women Against State pension (Inequality) of women was greatly affected by changes in their state pension age, when it increased from 60 to 65 years to align it with that of men.

He DWP did not adequately inform the women about the change, which derailed many of their retirement plans.

Ministers have to decide whether to grant compensation, and many individual MPs back calls for payments.

A growing means of support is a petition to Parliament urging the Government to “fairly compensate” women, which has reached almost 130,000 signatures at the time of writing.

It has been more than two weeks since the petition passed the 10,000 signature mark, meaning the Government will have to provide a response. Having reached 100,000 signatures, the matter will also be considered for debate in Parliament.

Many senior politicians recently signed an all-party letter to the Government urging action in the next two weeks.

The letter, signed by SNP leader Stephen FlynnLiberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Green co-leader Carla Denyerstated: “We urge you to report back to Parliament on your progress in responding to the PHSO report before the Christmas recess, setting out the likely scope of any compensation scheme and when it will begin.”

The campaign to win payments for women already has the backing of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which published a report in March recommending compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950.

His maximum level of compensation is £10,000 or more, and MPs backing the campaign have previously said there should be compensation at this level.

Within the Labor Party itself, there are several big names who have previously supported the campaign.

Work and Pensions Minister Sir Stephen Timms previously chaired the Work and Pensions Committee, which called for the creation of a payment plan. The current committee is chaired by Debbie Abrahams, who also supports the WASPI cause.

A bill for a compensation program for former SNP Deputy Alan Brown, who was due to have his second reading but this came to an end when the previous Government ended.

Commenting on the recent all-party letter, WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden said: “WASPI’s calls for fair and swift compensation are backed by an overwhelming number of people across the country and a clear majority of parliamentarians from all parties.

“The Government has shown it can do the right thing by compensating victims of the infected blood and Post Office scandals, however many will also wonder why the WASPI women have been left waiting.

“Today’s action shows that it doesn’t matter who is in government: justice must be done and WASPI women are not going away.”