Women born in the 1950s have been campaigning against changes to their state pension age and how these were communicated
Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaigners and their supporters(Image: Getty)
WASPI campaigners have hailed a major breakthrough in their case against the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) after the High Court granted their application for a judicial review into the government’s decision not to pay out compensation to 1950s-born women.
Back in February, Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaigners submitted their arguments for a legal case challenging the DWP’s decision not to compensate women affected by changes to their state pension age and how these were communicated.
In an update to supporters this morning, WASPI says High Court judges have determined their case is arguable and “ought to be considered at a final hearing”, meaning ministers could be ordered to re-think their position on WASPI compensation if they lose the case.
This follows a recommendation from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman that payouts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 should be made.
In December, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall made the perhaps surprising decision to accept ‘maladministration’ had taken place in the way women’s State Pension age changes were communicated, while rejecting the Ombudsman’s findings on injustice.
People at a Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) protest(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
The Government alleged that most WASPI women knew about State Pension age changes, despite accepting the DWP’s failure to properly inform them, and said none would receive compensation.
The High Court is also urgently listing an ‘interim’ hearing to consider WASPI’s application for a costs capping order.
Campaigners have called this a “landmark moment”. Angela Madden, Chair of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), said: “This is a landmark moment in our campaign that shows the DWP what we all already know – that the Government’s decision was formed on baseless claims that will fail to stand up under scrutiny.
“What’s more, with the millions of pounds in the DWP’s pocket to spend on lawyers, the Government seems to think they can avoid humiliation by refusing a Costs Capping Order and scaring us away.
“This is a government department which is in complete denial of its mistakes. However, the ombudsman already says they have got things wrong, and now the courts could be about to make a similar decision.
“There are 3.6 million affected women across the country with partners, families and communities backing the campaign, who we urge to donate what they can to our Crowd Justice page.
“We are grateful for the funds raised so far and understand the country’s purse strings are tight, but the Government cannot be allowed to brush this injustice aside.”