Campaigners representing women affected by State Pension age changes say they are preparing to return to the High Court.
10:23, 13 May 2026Updated 15:25, 13 May 2026
Campaigners representing women affected by State Pension age changes say they are preparing to return to the High Court.(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
Campaigners representing WASPI women have confirmed they are launching a fresh legal challenge against the UK Government over its refusal to introduce a compensation scheme linked to State Pension age changes.
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign said legal action is moving forward after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rejected recommendations from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) to introduce a redress scheme for those financially impacted by the changes to their retirement age.
The Ombudsman previously found maladministration by the DWP in its communication about increases to the State Pension age affecting an estimated 3.5 million women born in the 1950s.
READ MORE: DWP urged to rethink State Pension age compensation for WASPI womenREAD MORE: New State Pension age rise to 67 will affect people born on these birthdays
The campaign group also argued that Labour’s recent local election losses should serve as a warning, with WASPI women and their families representing a significant voting bloc in marginal seats.
In January, women affected by the way changes to the State Pension age were communicated were told for a second time they would not receive compensation.
A previous decision not to offer redress was reviewed after the rediscovery of a 2007 DWP evaluation, which at the time led to officials stopping sending out automatic pension forecast letters.
WASPI, which has long campaigned for compensation, said in March that lawyers would raise “legal errors” with the UK Government and give its lawyers 14 days to respond.
Campaigners are now seeking a fresh High Court challenge and said that WASPI are in the early stages of doing this.
Angela Madden, chair of the WASPI campaign, said: “The Government has had every opportunity to do the right thing for WASPI women. Instead, they have made a political choice that risks alienating voters in hundreds of marginal seats across the country.
“Labour MPs have seen the electoral data. They know WASPI women have the numbers to unseat them. Yet ministers continue to ignore the independent Ombudsman, their own backbenchers, and millions of voters.
“After losing nearly 1,500 seats in the recent local elections, the party now has a clear choice: listen to WASPI women and compensate them fairly, or face the consequences at the next general election. We will not be ignored, and we will not give up this fight.”
A report by the PHSO has previously suggested compensation ranging between £1,000 and £2,950 could be appropriate for each of those affected.
A spokesperson for the DWP told the Press Association: “We do not comment on live litigation.
“The Secretary of State set out the Government’s position in his oral statement to Parliament, including acceptance of maladministration and apology to the women affected.
“Our focus now is on delivering an action plan so we can learn lessons in how DWP communicates state pension matters in the future.”
Get the latest Record Money news
Join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group for money-saving tips, the latest State Pension and benefits news, energy bill advice and cost of living updates.
Sign up to our Record Money newsletter and get the top stories sent to your inbox daily from Monday to Friday with a special cost of living edition every Thursday – sign up here.
You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Recordmoney_ for regular updates throughout the day or get money news alerts on your phone by joining our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community.