13 Jan 2025
Women across the UK who had expected compensation for the impact caused by a change in their pension age which led to some losing thousands of pounds in expected payments are furious after the Government rejected their plea.
Born in the 1950s and known as WASPI women (Women Against State Pension Inequality), in 2018 they had their pensionable age extended in a bid to bring their pension age in line with men.
Campaigners have for years argued that 3.6 million women were not properly informed of the rise in state pension age and were fighting for compensation from the Government of at least £10,000 each.
But then on December 17 Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told the House of Commons that there would be “no scheme” for compensation, deeming it unfair and poor value for taxpayers.
St Albans resident Christine Pedder, 67, who was a registered nurse for 36 years, feels that the recent announcement is unacceptable.
“It would impact me positively to get the money – the fundamental acknowledgment that we are deserving of this. If this were a group of men and not women, I absolutely believe it would have been resolved decades ago.
“This Government seem to have a campaign against pensioners. I feel we are being used to reduce the Conservative debt and this is not an acceptable option.”
Sixty-seven-year-old Leanda Kelly, who lives in Park Steet, has devastatingly lost two of her adult children to suicide. She described the announcement as “another broken promise by the Labour Government.”
Leanda retired at the age of 61 when her daughter died six years ago: “Receiving a pension then would have been very handy! If I didn’t have savings I could never live on just my pension.”
Though she feels that any compensation would not have covered the loss from the pension changes she said that it would have been a positive gesture after women had campaigned for so many years.
“I think the Labour Party will definitely have lost even more voters now!” she added.
Jersey Farm resident Mary McIntyre, 68, said although she personally would not have needed compensation for the change in pension age, she feels strongly that the pension rate in the UK should be higher: “I think we should all receive a decent pension.
“I would rate having a pension I could live on rather than compensation for all women who were due to retire at 60.
“I have never joined the campaign because there are young people living rough, young people ladened with debt from university unable to get on the property ladder while my generation could get a 100 per cent mortgage. A lot of the WASPI women will be relatively well off compared to them.”
She added: “The Government suddenly decided that they were being sexist – something that had never bothered them before – and that men and women should have the same retirement age.
“It made sense to allow us all to retire at 60 and open up the job market to younger people seeking employment but that is not what was to happen. Instead they said we all had to work until 65.
“We are living longer, which means that the taxpayers will be paying out for our pensions longer than anticipated. However, we have one of the lowest pension rates in Europe. Luxembourg is the highest at £3,050.57 per month whilst in the UK it is £802.32.
“I don’t think it is possible to live on such a miserly amount. The fuel allowance was essential for many. I do think it should be means-tested – it would be absurd that someone like Alan Sugar received the same as a pensioner in a council flat.
“However, if power companies were nationalised or not-for-profit, we would not pay out massive bonuses to shareholders.
“In fact, we should not need any additional benefits, we should receive a pension that allows us to live comfortably and with dignity.
“As much as this matters to me and impacts on every aspect of my life I am also very much aware that we are the luckiest generation ever!
“My grandparents lived with poverty, hunger and WWI. My parents experienced the hungry thirties and WWII and fortunately survived.
“I had the benefits of a free NHS – which included dentistry. I went to a local grammar school, and when I went to university my fees were paid, my accommodation paid for and if that was not enough, I was given a grant! No other generation has been so fortunate!
“I do not want compensation but I would like a decent pension that covers the cost of living – without the need for means-tested benefits.”
Former St Albans resident Linda Hall, 72, said: “I think WASPI women have a case. They are the women affected by the injustice in their early years of employment… having equal pay. The law did not change until 1970, until then it was standard to pay women less and some employers did not change their attitudes or behaviours until further legislation happened in 2010 when The Equality Act came in.”
She recalls applying for finance for a vacuum cleaner in 1971 and being told she could only receive it if her husband gave his permission as an example of inequality she has faced throughout her life.
“The argument in the pub at that time was that women don’t work as well when they have periods and that because women get married and have children and retire earlier they should have less money.”
Linda said that she did not get a letter informing her that my pension age would increase and only heard about it eventually through the media.
She said: “The way the Government brought in the change was appalling.
“Even the Government website showed women’s state pension age as 60 until as late as 2016.
“With no social media, limited internet access and most women not getting a letter from the Government, it’s no surprise that the DWP research in the early 2000s suggested that 60 per cent of women were unaware of the changes.”
She said that the biggest injustice for her was that she retired in March 2016 and the new rate of pension came in on April 8 meaning she receives the old pension rate, whereas had she retired 20 days later she would have received more.
She added: “Given what our generation have lived through, it does seem unfair.”
What do you think? The WASPI decision comes in the wake of other UK injustices like the Post Office scandal and the Windrush Generation which have also had devastating effects on the lives of those caught up in them. While arguably they are not comparable, it does seem to demonstrate a hatred towards the “underdog” and a lack of support from what is supposed to be a compassionate and democratic Government. Send us your thoughts to deputy@stalbanstimes.co.uk
