WASPI Secures 12-Week Government Rethink on Compensation Decision

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed it will aim to revisit its decision on WASPI compensation within 12 weeks.

On December 2, the WASPI campaign group secured an agreement to pause their judicial review, following the Secretary of State’s commitment to reconsider the government’s stance on compensation.

A special hearing had been scheduled for today to decide whether the judicial review listed for December 9–10 should go ahead. However, ministers have now pledged to reach a new compensation decision by February 2026 and to cover more than half of WASPI’s legal costs.

The campaign group will retain the option to restart legal proceedings if necessary.

Angela Madden, chair of the WASPI group, said: “Yet again, WASPI has held its nerve and yet again, virtually at the steps of the court, the government has backed down, this time accepting last year’s decision denying the huge injustice suffered by WASPI women simply does not withstand scrutiny.

“Today’s agreement on speedy and thorough reconsideration is welcome. But the government should be in no doubt that WASPI stands ready to return to court if it yet again fails to do the right thing.”

Jan Shortt, NPC General Secretary said: “The government’s promise to revisit the WASPI compensation decision is a welcome step, but coming just a day before a scheduled High Court hearing, raises serious concerns that this may be yet another delay tactic.

“Justice for 1950s-born women requires far more than warm 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.”

"I will be contacting WASPI Chair Angela Madden to pledge NPC's continuing support."

Background

Last month, pensions secretary Pat McFadden told MPs that the government would withdraw and revisit its rejection of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s findings of maladministration. This followed a revelation that a key document had not been shown to then-pensions minister Liz Kendall when the original decision was made. The government emphasised that this should not be taken as a commitment to award compensation.

Judicial Review

Both parties had been due in court on December 9–10 for the judicial review brought by WASPI. But the government has now said it will not continue defending the challenge while it reconsiders its position.

WASPI stated: “Right now, we need to establish whether the government will accept that last December’s decision is as riddled with errors as we have always said it is in our claim, not only because of the withholding of the 2007 research.

“Then we can decide what to ask the court to do. Our lawyers have sent a letter putting these straightforward questions to the Secretary of State’s representatives.

“For now, we have told our lawyers to press on with their preparations as before,”

Recent WASPI Timeline

• March 2024: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PSHO) concluded that WASPI women were owed compensation by the DWP.

• December 2024: The government rejected this finding and ruled out financial redress.

• January 2025: 105 MPs voted in favour of accepting the PHSO report and paying compensation.

• February 2025: WASPI threatened legal action due to lack of government action.

• March 2025: The group launched a crowdfunding campaign and filed for judicial review.

• June 2025: The High Court granted permission for a full hearing, calling the case “arguable”.

• December 2025: The hearing was scheduled, but the government has now paused its defence as it reconsiders the case.