The WASPI campaign is renewing its efforts to call for DWP compensation after meeting dozens of MPs in Parliament this week. The WASPI campaigners (Women Against State Pension Inequality) from across the UK organised a drop-in event in Westminster on Tuesday, October 21, where many MPs who back their cause pledged their support again.

Around 100 MPs came along to find out the latest on the campaign, with an interactive map set up to show how many women affected by the WASPI issue there are in each constituency. WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden said the event was “fabulous” with many MPs writing personal messages to show their support. She said the campaigners used the opportunity to urge the MPs to raise the WASPI issue with Pat McFadden, the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Ms Madden said: “We asked a lot of them if they could speak to Pat McFadden and see if he would come round the table with us. Alternative dispute resolution would be great for us.

“The court case is penned in, but we’d love to sit round the table and talk, and get round to agreeing a compensation scheme. We’re going to have to get round the table and talk in the end, so let’s do it sooner rather than later.”

What is the WASPI controvery about?

WASPI is one of several campaign groups who represent the generation of 1950s-born women who were affected when the state pension age for women jumped up from 60 to 65 and then 66. Many of the women claim they did not know of the change, ruining their retirement plans when they found out.

WASPI have battled for over a decade to try and get DWP compensation, arguing that the department should have done more to inform the women of the change. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman investigated the matter, concluding the DWP did make key mistakes, and that officials should have sent out letters sooner.

The watchdog also recommended payouts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950. But Labour announced at the end of last year there would be no compensation.

Ministers said that sending out letters sooner would have made little difference and that it would be a poor use of taxpayer funds to issue compensation.

WASPI has now successfully applied for a judicial review of the DWP‘s decision. The high court will hear the case on December 9 and 10.

Ms Madden said the campaigners are not very hopeful they will manage to get Mr McFadden to sit down to discuss a resolution ahead of the court date. But she said they will fight with fresh vigour if they are successful at the high court.

The campaign boss said: “The big push will be after the court case when we have a judgment. I’m confident that the judgment will be that the Government acted unlawfully. Then it will be putting pressure on the Government through debate and through the media and through action at that time.”

A DWP spokesperson said previously about the judicial review: “We do not comment on live litigation. We accept the Ombudsman’s finding of maladministration and have apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women.

“However, we do not agree with the Ombudsman’s approach to injustice or remedy and that is why we have decided not to pay compensation.”