The Government has issued an update on the on-going WASPI debacle (Women Against State Pension Inequality). The WASPI campaign has fought for over a decade, along with other advocacy groups, to get DWP compensation for the 1950s-born generation of women affected by the state pension for women increasing from 60 to 65 and then 66.

They claim the women were not properly informed of the change and should get payouts as a result, as many did not know right up to the last minute, ruining their retirement plans.

An investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recommended compensation ranging from £1,000 to £2,950, concluding that the DWP should have written letters to the women sooner.

The Labour Governent announced in December 2024 they would not provide any compensation, arguing most women did know of the change. They also made the case that sending out the letters earlier would have had little impact.

Undettered by this setback, WASPI successfully applied for a judicial review, which was set to take place in December 2025. But the DWP announced at the last minute that it would withdraw its decision not to grant compensation, and that this would be retaken.

Many individual MPs back the WASPI cause as well as several political parties, including the Liberal Democrats, who now have 72 MPs in Westminster. Lib Dem MP Luke Taylor asked the Government two written questions in Parliament about the issue.

His first question was whether there were any plans “to take steps to provide compensation” for the women and his other query was if the Government would implement the PHSO’s previous recommendations.

Pensions minister Torsten Bell provided a single response to both questions. He said: “As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State announced in his oral statement on November 11, 2025, we have decided to retake the decision made last December as it relates to the communications on state pension age.

“The work is underway, and we will update the House on the decision as soon as a conclusion is reached.” After the DWP announced it would retake the decision, it agreed with WASPI to settle out of court so the judicial review never went ahead.

As part of the agreement, the DWP will issue a fresh decision within 12 weeks of the settlement and pay £180,000 towards WASPI’s legal costs. WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden said previously: “The Government should be in no doubt that WASPI stands ready to return to court early in the new year if it yet again fails to do the right thing by accepting the reality of injustice caused by DWP maladministration and the compelling need to offer meaningful remedies to WASPI women.

“There must be no more delay and no more denials.”

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