Support for the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign continues to grow as the group’s latest legal bid has reached a landmark.

The campaign has been raising funds for its judicial review, which has now been agreed to be taken on by the high court. The group is hoping the court will overturn the DWP‘s decision not to grant compensation for the 1950s-born women that WASPI represents.

WASPI has been raising funds for its legal costs with a public fundraiser, which has now amassed over £240,000 in support.

The campaign has secured a costs capping order from the court, meaning whichever side loses will be limited in how much of the legal costs it has to pay for the other side.

The debate revolves around the generation of women born in the 1950s who were impacted when their state pension age went up from 60 to 65 and then 66.

The campaigners claim they were not properly informed of the change by the DWP with many left unaware right up to the last minute, ruining their retirement plans when they found out.

Hopes were raised for the campaign after the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman previously looked into the case and found there was ‘maladministration’ on the part of the DWP, as it should have sent out letters to the women sooner.

But the DWP announced at the end of last year that no compensation payouts would be made. Ministers argued most women did know of the change to their state pension age, and that sending out letters sooner would have made little difference.

This is the decision that the WASPI campaign are hoping to get overturned at the high court. Speaking previously about the legal challenge, WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden said: “It doesn’t matter even if we win the case, the Government probably still won’t want to pay what they should or what has been recommended.

“What we are hoping is that more and more MPs will come across to the side of what is right to be done, rather than voting with the Government.”

Many individual MPs have pledged their support for compensation, while some parties endorse the campaign, including the Liberal Democrats and the SNP.

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.”

The WASPI campaign previously released an update thanking donors to their legal cause. The group said: “We appreciate that you have all donated generously to date and if you are willing to do so, we would be very grateful for any further donations you, your friends, relatives and colleagues could make towards our fighting fund.

“Please do share the link to our CrowdJustice page with your networks so that we can continue to fight for justice for WASPI women.

“Thanks to every one of you who has supported us so far and made it possible for us to achieve this important step towards victory.”