A group advocating for women affected by changes in the state pension age has threatened legal action against the government if it does not reconsider the decision to deny them compensation. The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group is requesting payouts for 3.6 million women born in the 1950s who were not adequately informed of changes made in the 1990s. The government acknowledged that the communication of these changes was insufficient but argued that a £10.5 billion compensation scheme would not be justifiable at the expense of taxpayers.
Waspi chair Angela Madden expressed outrage at the government’s stance, stating that they believe it is not only morally wrong but legally unjust. In response to the government’s refusal, a “letter before action” has been sent as a formal notice, giving them an opportunity to respond before the campaigners proceed with seeking a judicial review at the High Court in two weeks. Last year, the parliamentary ombudsman recommended individual payouts of up to £2,950 due to a 28-month delay in notifying the affected women of the pension age changes.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall issued an apology for the delayed communications but asserted that earlier notifications would not have altered the retirement decisions of these women. Despite the government’s position, Waspi campaigners argue that women faced financial hardships and had to rethink their retirement plans as a consequence of the delayed communication. As the group launches a crowd-funding campaign to cover estimated legal fees of £75,000, the potential impact of a successful judicial review could result in a significant financial burden for the government, with estimated costs amounting to £10.5 billion.
The controversial changes to the state pension age were initially devised in 1995 to align the retirement age for men and women by 2020. Following the financial crisis in 2010, the government expedited the implementation of these changes to reduce state pension costs. While other countries have made similar adjustments, the UK government’s delayed communication of these changes has drawn criticism and may be subject to legal scrutiny. A government spokesperson acknowledged the maladministration identified by the ombudsman and apologized for the delay in notifying women born in the 1950s. However, the government contends that earlier communication would not have altered the awareness of the changes among affected individuals
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