The UK government has officially rejected the compensation claims from the Women Against State Pensions Inequality (Waspi) campaign. The group has sought redress due to what they perceive as inadequate notification regarding changes to the state pension age for women. This transition raised the retirement age from 60 to 65, aligning it with men’s retirement age. Specifically, the government reaffirmed its stance following a review initiated in late 2025.
Waspi Campaign’s Claims
The Waspi campaign argues that the change in the pension age was implemented too rapidly. As a result, many women found themselves unprepared for the extended years without access to their state pension. The government, however, contends that most women were aware of the impending changes, having stated this in a December 2024 announcement.
Details of the Review
The review was primarily focused on the communication of pension age changes, not on the policy decisions themselves. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden addressed this matter in the House of Commons, reiterating the government’s conclusion from December 2024 regarding compensation.
- Review Date: Late 2025
- Number of Affected Women: Approximately 3.6 million
- Estimated Compensation Cost: £10.5 billion
- Birth Years Impacted: Women born between April 1951 and 1960
Historical Context
The initial changes were first introduced in the 1995 Pensions Act, which aimed to equalize the state pension age for women and men by 2020. This plan was accelerated in 2011, with the new target set for 2018. In light of the review, McFadden acknowledged that communication could have been handled more proactively, and he offered an apology on behalf of the government regarding delayed notifications.
Despite these admissions, the government maintains that the affected women did not incur any direct financial losses due to the delay in communication. The ongoing discussion surrounding the pension age continues to evoke varied opinions on the decision made by the coalition government in 2011.
