The Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign is taking on the UK government in a legal battle over pension compensation. After a major legal breakthrough, the group has received the go-ahead to challenge the government’s decision to reject compensation for the 1950s-born women who were affected by changes in the state pension age. With this victory in the courts, Waspi believes they can force a U-turn on the government’s position.
The Legal Case Against the Government
The Waspi campaign centers around the issue of 3.6 million women born in the 1950s who expected to receive their state pension at the age of 60, only to find that they would have to wait another five or six years.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) concluded that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had failed to inform these women properly about the change in pension age. The Ombudsman recommended that the government compensate these women, suggesting amounts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 each.
However, the UK government dismissed this recommendation, arguing that the £10.5bn cost of compensation would be unfair to taxpayers. They claimed that 90% of the affected women were aware of the state pension age changes, despite the DWP’s failure to communicate the changes effectively.
The Waspi Campaign’s Legal Strategy
The Waspi campaign, led by chairwoman Angela Madden, has argued that the government’s rejection of compensation is unreasonable and unlawful. Madden is confident that the court will rule in their favor, believing that this legal fight is a David versus Goliath situation.
While the High Court will not force the government to pay compensation directly, the campaigners hope that a ruling against the government’s decision could force political pressure to reverse the stance on compensation.
One of the key points of the Waspi campaign’s argument is that the government misused survey data when claiming that 90% of women were aware of the pension age change. According to Waspi, the survey only involved a small number of women born in the 1950s and is not representative of the entire group.
What Legal Experts Say
Legal experts suggest that even if the Waspi campaign wins the case, it might not lead to the government paying compensation. Jonathan Compton, a partner at law firm DMH Stallard, mentioned that the courts are likely to be reluctant to intervene when large sums of money are involved.
However, Waspi’s legal team believes that winning the case could create enough political pressure to force the government into a compensation decision.
Jo Mackie, a legal expert, pointed out that the government’s claim that 90% of Waspi women were aware of the pension age change will be a challenging point to defend in court. The subjectivity of this claim could work in Waspi’s favor.
Financial Challenges and Campaign Support
One of the hurdles that Waspi faces in this battle is the potential for significant legal costs. While the campaign has raised more than £208,000 in funding, they are aiming to reach £230,000 to continue the legal proceedings.
The government’s refusal to agree to capped legal costs has created further uncertainty, with Waspi campaigners arguing that this is an attempt to discourage them from pursuing the case.
What’s Next for the Waspi Campaign?
Waspi remains determined to continue the legal fight, with hopes that a court ruling could lead to further political pressure on the government. Angela Madden has made it clear that the campaign will not back down, stating that they will keep fighting until justice is served.
For now, the Waspi campaign is focused on raising funds and pushing for a ruling that could lead to compensation for the women affected by these pension changes.
The Waspi campaign is not backing down in its fight for pension compensation. With a recent court decision allowing their case to move forward, they remain hopeful that they can force a government U-turn.
Despite the challenges, including legal costs and the government’s stance, Waspi believes that a successful legal ruling could create enough political pressure to secure compensation for millions of women born in the 1950s who were impacted by the state pension age change.
FAQs
Why is the Waspi campaign taking legal action against the UK government?
The Waspi campaign is taking legal action to demand compensation for 3.6 million women born in the 1950s who were not properly informed about changes to the state pension age. The government’s refusal to compensate these women after a report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman found ‘maladministration’ has led to this legal challenge.
What is the role of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in the Waspi case?
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) investigated the failure of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to inform women about the pension age changes. The PHSO concluded that the DWP was guilty of ‘maladministration’ and recommended compensation for the affected women, a recommendation which the UK government rejected.
How does the Waspi campaign argue the government misused survey data?
The Waspi campaign argues that the government’s claim that 90% of the affected women were aware of the pension age change was based on misleading survey data. They point out that only a small sample of about 200 women born in the 1950s was questioned, making the results unreliable for the whole group.
What is the potential outcome if Waspi wins the legal case?
If Waspi wins the legal case, the court would determine whether the government’s decision to reject compensation was unreasonable and unlawful. While the court can’t directly order compensation, the campaign hopes a ruling against the government could create enough political pressure to force a U-turn on the compensation decision.
How is the Waspi campaign raising funds for its legal battle?
The Waspi campaign has raised over £208,000 so far for legal costs, with a goal to reach £230,000. The campaign has requested supporters to donate in light of the government’s refusal to cap legal costs, which increases financial uncertainty for the group.
