Campaigners representing millions of women born in the 1950s are returning to Westminster this week for a pivotal meeting, as their long-running battle for compensation over state pension age changes enters a critical new phase. The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) group maintains that these women were unfairly treated due to rapid increases in the State Pension Age, which they argue were communicated inadequately by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Ombudsman Expresses Serious Concerns Over DWP Inaction
Hope for a resolution has been reignited following a significant U-turn by the DWP in December 2025, when the department scrapped its earlier stance and pledged to deliver a fresh decision on the matter. This shift came after ministers told Parliament in December 2024 that there would be no payouts for the millions of women championed by WASPI and other campaign groups. The Government stated it needed to reconsider the issue as new evidence had emerged that required careful examination.
While campaigners await the Government's revised verdict, DWP officials face intense scrutiny from the Work and Pensions Committee this week. The committee is hauling the department over the coals after the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) – the Government's independent watchdog – raised what it described as "serious concerns" about the DWP's failure to act on the WASPI matter.
Historical Context of the Pension Age Controversy
WASPI champions women born during the 1950s who experienced their state pension age jump dramatically from 60 to 65, and subsequently to 66. The campaign group argues that the DWP failed to provide adequate warning about these significant shifts, leaving countless women completely unaware until it was too late to adjust their retirement plans accordingly. This communication failure, they claim, has resulted in financial hardship and ruined retirement expectations for many affected individuals.
The Ombudsman previously investigated this issue thoroughly and concluded that there had been clear 'maladministration' by the DWP. Their investigation found that letters should have been dispatched to the affected women far earlier than they were. When ministers rejected compensation proposals in 2024, they did acknowledge the Ombudsman's finding of maladministration, though this acknowledgement did not translate into concrete action or financial redress for those affected.
Frustration Mounts Over Implementation Delays
Labour had vowed before Parliament to collaborate with the DWP to create what they described as a "detailed action plan" to ensure lessons were properly learned from this fiasco. However, more than twelve months later, the Ombudsman reports that there has been disappointingly little progress on this commitment. The Work and Pensions Committee will now demand clear answers from the DWP about why implementation has stalled so significantly.
Paula Sussex, the Ombudsman and chair, expressed her mounting frustration in a recent letter to the Work and Pensions Committee. She stated unequivocally: "I have serious concerns about the significant delays in the implementation of the actions that DWP committed to undertake and the communication with my Office in relation to the state pension age investigation."
Campaigners Maintain Vigilance and Pressure
WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden confirmed that representatives from the campaign will be closely observing the committee meeting proceedings. She commented: "I think it's helpful that the DWP know that we are still there and that we're still interested in everything that they do. We are fighting for compensation but we also want them to improve. We really want all of the Ombudsman's recommendations to be implemented including better communications for all people affected by the DWP's work."
When questioned about whether the committee meeting might help increase pressure on the Government to finally deliver compensation, Ms Madden responded: "This is the way Parliament holds the Government to account, through these meetings. I don't know if it can direct the work of the DWP, because that's up to Pat McFadden [Secretary of State for Work and Pensions], but they can perhaps give them strong suggestions about what they feel they should be doing."
The Ombudsman's letter further emphasised: "Taking action to address these acknowledged failings should not be dependent on any decision about financial compensation. I am very concerned that stopping this work indicates that DWP is deprioritising the need for remedial action. It is certainly a disservice to the department's service users and complainants."
Historical Committee Efforts and Current Stakes
A former version of the Work and Pensions Committee, operating under the previous Conservative Government, did urge the Government to outline concrete plans for compensation back in May 2024. However, this proposal failed to progress as the committee was dissolved shortly afterward when the General Election was called, leaving the matter unresolved.
As campaigners return to Westminster with renewed determination, the coming weeks represent a crucial juncture in this long-running saga. The combination of parliamentary scrutiny, Ombudsman pressure, and sustained campaigner vigilance creates a potent mix that could finally force meaningful action on an issue affecting millions of women across the country.
