Who are the Waspi women? Anger as women hit by pension age rise are rejected payout
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The Government's “unjustified” denial of compensation for women affected by changes to the state pension age has sparked a furious backlash from campaigners. Earlier this year, women who were impacted by changes to the state pension age and were born in the 1950s unanimously called for compensation. A parliamentary ombudsman had suggested that each of those affected should receive between £1,000 and £2,950 in compensation.
![[Rachel Reeves says compensation for Waspi women would not be fair to taxpayers]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2024/12/18/08/3ee112c93df517642e190ad2ec0a3401Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM0NTk3MDE3-2.78473236.jpg?crop=8:5,smart&quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, who issued an apology for the 28-month delay in sending letters, has refused to accept any cash compensation. According to Ms Kendall, there was proof of “considerable awareness” of the pension age increases, and delivering letters earlier would not have affected their capacity to decide when to retire.
![[Watchdog hits out at Government's decision not to compensate 'Waspi women']](https://static.standard.co.uk/2024/12/17/14/9dba900285ebcb68353c49dfcad92b7bY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM0NTMxNTY2-2.78023871.jpg?crop=8:5,smart&quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
She added that Labour did not think “paying a flat rate to all women at a cost of up to £10.5bn would be fair or proportionate to taxpayers” and that there was no proof of “direct financial loss” to Waspi women as a result of the Government's decision.
![[Scottish Labour had hoped for ‘compromise’ on Waspi compensation]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2024/12/17/15/4d4c8e2c1c60a484013bc64c086a6f7aY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM0NTMzODYw-2.78023911.jpg?crop=8:5,smart&quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign labelled the Government's decision an “insult”. Angela Madden, chair of the campaign group, said: “The Government has today made an unprecedented political choice to ignore the clear recommendations of an independent watchdog.
![[Kendall faces MP criticism and calls to reconsider Waspi compensation decision]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2024/12/17/15/973bfd7be15333e2e4bfa1c0b590f4b1Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM0NTMzNDQz-2.78512511.jpg?crop=8:5,smart&quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
