The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has released a report stating that a fair compensation scheme for Waspi women would cost between £3.5bn and £10.5bn. The report recommends that women entitled to compensation should be paid at level 4 of the scale, which would amount to between £1,000 and £2,950. This compensation is intended to address the significant and lasting injustice that has affected these women’s ability to live a relatively normal life.
The report highlights the need for a compensation scheme that reflects individual impact but also acknowledges the challenges of assessing potentially millions of individual women’s circumstances. The report suggests that a more standardized approach may be necessary to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and value for money in delivering compensation.
MPs from the all-party parliamentary group on state pension inequality for women have backed the Waspi campaign group, advocating for compensation payments worth at least £10,000. The campaign leader, Angela Madden, has expressed frustration at the Department for Work and Pensions’ resistance to paying compensation, calling on Parliament to intervene and ensure that these women receive the compensation they deserve.
The report also outlines the findings of the PHSO investigation into the DWP’s failure to properly communicate changes to the state pension age for women. It highlights instances of maladministration and the impact on affected individuals, recommending a mechanism for providing appropriate remedy for those who have suffered injustice.
Overall, the report underscores the need for swift action to address the injustices faced by Waspi women and calls on Parliament to establish a compensation scheme to provide these women with the quickest route to remedy. The issue of compensating Waspi women is a pressing concern that requires urgent attention and resolution.