Gloucestershire MPs back calls for WASPI women to be compensated
MPs have signed a letter calling for women affected by Government failures to tell them about state pension age changes to get justice
Two Gloucestershire MPs have signed a letter calling for women who were let down by Government failures to tell them about changes to their state pension age to be compensated in a fair and timely manner.
Stroud's Simon Opher and South Cotswolds' Roz Savage, are among more than 100 MPs who have backed the calls for justice.
Dr Savage said: "Too many women in the South Cotswolds and across the country were left financially worse off by changes to the State Pension age, often with little or no notice, following legislation first passed in 1995.
"That injustice has been recognised by the Ombudsman, yet it still has not been put right."
Angela Madden, chair of the WASPI campaign says women born between April 1950 and April 1960 after changes to the state pension age left many without notice, have faced significant disruption to their personal and financial plans.
She explained that women in this group had expected to receive their state pension at 60, following decades of policy set since 1945.
Many worked for government-owned organisations, including professions such as nursing, teaching, and civil service, where annual benefit statements reaffirmed their pension eligibility alongside the state pension at 60.
However, many learned late about the increase in pension age, affecting decisions on work and retirement.
Angela herself received written communication in March 2012, just two years before her expected pension age, informing her that her state pension was pushed back to March 2020 – nearly six years later than anticipated.
This left her unable to return to work due to previous choices made based on inaccurate pension-age expectations.
The impact on women
Angela highlighted how the delayed changes have affected women differently, with single women and those without alternative income facing increased challenges.
Some women struggled financially, had to move back in with ex-partners or rely on family support, and others took jobs they found demeaning or unsafe.
Although she was able to manage due to her husband’s stable income and pension, the lack of autonomy and independence made the situation uncomfortable, reflecting a broader impact across women who had made life decisions based on incomplete information about their retirement.
Cross-party support and compensation
Commenting on the recent letter from MPs calling for compensation to affected women, Angela welcomed cross-party backing, describing it as both humbling and rewarding.
She emphasised the importance of compensation not as a handout but as recognition of the injustice women experienced due to delayed communication about pension-age changes.
"The ombudsman awarded compensation because this situation caused demeaning loss of autonomy and harmed women by taking away their ability to make informed decisions," Angela said.
A message for the Secretary of State
Asked what she would say to Pat McFadden, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Angela expressed the need to follow recommendations from the ombudsman, which scrutinised six years of gathered evidence on the matter.
She encouraged McFadden to act with an open mind regarding compensation. "I don't believe he'd be able to not follow the ombudsman’s recommendations." Angela also thanked McFadden for reconsidering the decision based on partial evidence initially presented.
WASPI campaigners continue to call for justice and compensation for affected women.
We've contacted the Department for Work and Pensions for comment.