WASPI campaigners break silence after compensation blow and say 'it's proof'

WASPI campaigners have hit out after being dealt another blow in their bid for compensation and payouts from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). A compensation bill set to be debated in Parliament today was delayed - in a fresh blow for millions.

The second reading of the State Pension Age (Compensation) Bill was due to take place today in the House of Commons, but it has now been pushed back by almost a month to May 17. MP Alan Brown, who first presented the bill in the Commons, said: "I am disappointed I have had to reschedule the potential second reading of the bill.

"This is proof that the way Westminster operates with the Government of the day being able to dictate timings needs to be overhauled." He said: "I have drafted a bill which sets out the criteria and compensation banding levels that would allow the WASPI women to get some form of justice.

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"I will continue to work on a cross party basis to garner more support and pressure the Government to do the right thing and address the fact that the DWP was guilty of maladministration and therefore compensation is due to the 3.8 millio women who had their pension age raised by up to 6 years without proper notification."

The motion for the bill sets out to "require the Secretary of State to publish proposals for a compensation scheme for women born between 6th April 1950 and 5th April 1960 inclusive who have been affected by increases in the state pension age; and for connected purposes".

WASPI, which launched in 2015, is seeking compensation for up to 3.6million women. Last month, a Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) report found the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) “did not communicate changes” to the state pension age well enough.

The PHSO report suggested a compensation level of between £1,000 and £2,950 for impacted women, but the WASPI campaign wants payouts of £10,000 or more.