Help WASPI send 1 million letters asking MPs to back their bid for justice

National Pensioners Convention
8 hours ago
2 min read

The NPC is urging members to help WASPI campaigners send a million letters to MPs asking them to support the 50s-born women’s claim for compensation.

This bold New Year move by WASPI – the Women Against State Pension Inequality – comes as the Government reconsiders* its earlier decision to reject compensation for the women.

WASPI argues that they were negatively affected by the way the increases to equalise the state pension age for women and men were communicated. They want supporters to write asking MPs to back their campaign for justice before the Government is due to report back on their compensation review at the end of next month.

WASPI chair Angela Madden said: “WASPI women are prepared to fight harder than ever before to seek the justice we deserve over the next few weeks. But we are not just asking 1950s women themselves to help.

"We need everyone in the country who backs us to get involved in a Herculean effort to make this an issue no MP can ignore.

“This really is crunch time. We need every MP making it clear that ministers are in the last chance saloon. If they again ignore the parliamentary ombudsman’s recommendations, they risk a humiliating tsunami of national outrage and further legal action.”

A 2024 report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman suggested compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 should be paid to those affected.

While the Government accepted the ombudsman’s findings that the group were not adequately informed about changes to the state pension age, and even apologised, they dismissed recommendations for payouts which could cost taxpayers up to £10.5 billion.

Backing the WASPI bid to send one million letters to MPs, NPC general secretary Jan Shortt said: “The Government’s recent promise to revisit the WASPI compensation decision is a welcome step, but justice for 1950s-born women requires far more than words.

"These women planned their lives around a state pension age that was abruptly and unfairly shifted, leaving many in severe financial difficulty and emotional distress.

"The Government must now demonstrate real commitment by delivering the meaningful compensation they are long overdue. It must also show confidence in their Ombudsman as the system for protecting our rights.

“That’s why we are asking NPC members to write to their local MPs in support of WASPI.”

You can find information, and a template to write to your local MP on the WASPI website: https://waspi.co.uk/getting-involved/waspi-map/

*A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that a commitment was made in November to reconsider the original decision within three months. However, they cautioned that this should not be interpreted as an indication that financial compensation will be awarded.

Download the press release