Waspi Women Threaten Legal Action over UK Pension Age Controversy

By Evans Momodu
3 minute digest
Published 18:11 UK(GMT), 24 February, 2025 


Sequel to the Keir Starmer pension decision, a group of Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaigners has threatened legal action against the UK government for its refusal to compensate millions of women affected by state pension age changes.

The dispute stems from a policy shift that raised the state pension age for women from 60 to 65, later increasing it to 66 in 2020. Many 1950s-born women claim they were not properly informed of these changes, which were accelerated in 2011 as part of government cost-cutting measures.

A watchdog had recommended compensation, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer rejected the proposal, citing the £10.5 billion cost as unaffordable for taxpayers.

On Monday, Waspi campaigners issued a "letter before action" to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), warning that they will escalate the matter to the High Court if no action is taken. Angela Madden, chair of the Waspi group, condemned the government's stance, calling it "gaslighting of victims" and legally unjust.

The group has launched a £75,000 CrowdJustice campaign to fund the legal battle, giving the government 14 days to respond before filing the case.

The controversy dates back to the 1990s, when legislation was introduced to gradually equalise the retirement age for men and women.

However, the 2011 Pensions Act significantly sped up the transition, affecting around 3.6 million women. Many say they received little to no notice, with some only learning about the changes 14 years after the law was passed.

Several Labour MPs, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, had previously supported the Waspi cause while in opposition. In 2016, Reeves criticised the pension age increase as an injustice and urged the government to reconsider.

With legal action now on the horizon, Waspi campaigners remain determined to hold the government accountable for what they see as a historic failure to properly notify affected women.
Source: Sky news