Ministers have again refused to pay compensation to women affected by changes to the state pension age, triggering renewed anger from campaigners who say millions were left in the dark about reforms that upended their retirement plans.
The government revisited the issue after a previously unseen document emerged, but concluded once more that compensation was neither justified nor affordable. Campaigners argue that around 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were not properly informed about the increase in the state pension age, which was equalised with men’s.
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) said the latest decision showed “utter contempt” for those affected.
Angela Madden, chair of Waspi, (pictured) said: “The government has kicked the can down the road for months, only to arrive at exactly the same conclusion it always wanted. This is a disgraceful political choice by a small group of very powerful people who have decided the harm suffered by millions of ordinary women simply does not matter.”
The government maintains that the majority of women affected were aware that the state pension age was rising, citing years of public information campaigns through leaflets, GP surgeries, television, radio, cinemas and online channels. However, many women say they only discovered the changes late in life, leaving them with little time to adjust financially.
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