The DWP has shared an update on when it will issue a decision on WASPI compensation. The WASPI campaign (Women Against State Pension Inequality), alongside other groups, has fought for more than a decade to get DWP compensation.

They represent the generation of women born in the 1950s who were impacted by the state pension age for women increasing from 60 to 65 and then 66. Campaigners claim the women were not properly informed of this change by the DWP ahead of time, with many unaware of the change right up to the last minute, ruining their plans for retirement.

An investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman found the DWP should have sent out letters to the women sooner, saying there was ‘maladministration’ on the part of the department. The watchdog also recommended that the Government issue payouts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950.

But the DWP announced in December 2024 that there would be no compensation. Ministers said that most of the women did know of the change in their state pension age, and that writing to the women sooner would have made little difference.

The WASPI campaign sought to challenge this at the High Court with a judicial review, set for December 2025. But shortly before the court date, the DWP said it would take back its original decision and issue a new one, as there was new evidence to consider.

Shortly afterwards, the DWP agreed an out-of-court settlement with WASPI, with terms including that it would pay £180,000 towards their legal costs. The agreement also stated that Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden, would “use his best endeavours to take and communicate a new decision in response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s investigation within three months of the date of this order”.

The date of the court order was December 3, indicating that the new DWP decision will need to be issued by March 3 at the latest. The DWP has now said that it will retake it “within three months” of the order.

The department also encouraged state pensioners with queries about their payments to contact the Pension Service. You can call the service on 0800 731 0469 and lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

The state pension age for both men and women is currently 66. This will be increasing from April 2026, moving up in stages to 67 by April 2028.

Legislation is also in place for the state pension age to go up from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046. A previous review of the state pension age in 2023 suggested bringing forward this timetable.

The then Conservative Government decided not to implement this suggestion. Labour announced last year that there would be another review of the state pension age.

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