Reaction as government reconsiders decision to deny Bolton Waspi women compensation

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said that the government should rethink its December resolution not to reimburse the 3.6m women affected by the rise in retirement age for women.

Although Mr McFadden was quick to point out that this is not a guarantee the women will be offered financial redress.

Bernie Gallagher, secretary for the Bolton Pensioner’s Association, said: “I’m pleased, but still a bit confused with the government’s messaging.

“This new evidence will be used in the next court hearing for the Waspi women.

“It doesn’t confirm that the women will get their payments, despite the Ombudsman recommending they do.

“However, it is another piece in the jigsaw puzzle.”

‘Waspi’ stands for ‘Women Against State Pension Inequality’.

READ MORE: Waspi women decision a ‘betrayal’, Bolton campaigners say

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The group formed in 2015 in response to the Coalition Government’s decision to increase the state pension age for women from 60 to 65.

This increase was supposed to occur gradually between 2010 and 2020, but under the 2011 pensions act the process was sped up and the new pension age of 65 was introduced in 2018.

The retirement age was then raised again in 2020 to 66, affecting both men and women.

Campaigners say those affected were blindsided by this rapid change, being the victims of poor communication on the part of the government.

In 2024, a parliamentary ombudsman recommended that affected women should receive compensation packages between £1,000 and £2,950.

But this proposal was rejected in December 2024, when former Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced there would be no compensation for Waspi women.

But the question has now been reopened after the discovery of a 2007 report – evidence that was not made available to Ms Kendall.

Around 17 per cent of Bolton’s population is at retirement age, meaning over 25,000 Bolton residents may be affected.

The minister said “in the interests of fairness and transparency”, the Government would reconsider its decision.

He said: “This means we will retake the decision made last December, as it relates to the communications on state pension age.”

He added: “I understand that people are impatient for this matter to be finally resolved with the ombudsman’s investigation having taken six years before reporting last year, but it is important that we give this full and proper consideration.

“Retaking this decision should not be taken as an indication that Government will necessarily decide that it should award financial redress.”

Source – INDIA TV