TL;DR
WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) represents women born in the 1950s whose state pension age was raised from 60 to 65 and then to 66, often with little notice. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman found in March 2024 that DWP committed maladministration by failing to adequately notify affected women. As of June 2026, the government has declined to implement the Ombudsman's recommended compensation of 1,000 to 2,950 pounds, and the matter remains politically and legally contested.
Last reviewed: June 2026
The WASPI campaign was formed in 2015 by women born in the 1950s who argued they had not received adequate notice of the changes to their state pension age brought in by the Pensions Act 1995 and accelerated by the Pensions Act 2011. Many had planned their retirement on the basis of receiving their state pension at 60 and found themselves facing a wait of up to six years longer than expected with limited time to make alternative financial arrangements.
KEY FACTS
- WASPI stands for Women Against State Pension Inequality.
- Affected women were born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1960.
- The Pensions Act 1995 raised the female state pension age from 60 to 65, phased in from 2010 to 2020.
- The Pensions Act 2011 accelerated the timetable, raising the age to 66 by October 2020.
- The Parliamentary Ombudsman found maladministration in DWP's communication of changes in March 2024.
- Recommended compensation was 1,000 to 2,950 pounds per affected woman. The government rejected this in December 2024.
The pension age changes and their impact
The Pensions Act 1995 legislated to equalise the state pension age for men and women at 65, phasing in the change for women between 2010 and 2020. This was a policy response to European law requirements on equal treatment and long-term sustainability of the state pension. Women born before 6 April 1950 were largely unaffected. Those born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1953 faced a phased increase from 60 toward 65.
The Pensions Act 2011 went further, accelerating the timetable so that both men and women would reach state pension age at 66 by October 2020. This meant women born between 6 December 1953 and 5 October 1954 had their state pension age change twice in a relatively short period. Critics argued the acceleration gave many women less than two years to adjust their retirement plans.
WASPI's position has always been that they do not oppose the principle of equalisation but that the manner in which it was implemented, particularly the acceleration and the lack of timely individual notification, caused real financial harm. Many women had left employment, caring responsibilities or made financial decisions on the assumption of a pension at 60 that they did not receive.
The Parliamentary Ombudsman investigation
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) began investigating complaints about DWP's communication of the state pension age changes following a referral from the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. The investigation ran for several years and concluded in March 2024 with a significant finding.
The Ombudsman found that DWP had committed maladministration between 1995 and 2004 by failing to take adequate steps to inform women of the changes to their state pension age. Specifically, DWP did not begin proactively writing to affected women until 2009, approximately 14 years after the original legislation. The Ombudsman found this delay caused injustice to women who could not plan adequately for the later pension age.
The Ombudsman recommended that Parliament consider a compensation scheme paying between 1,000 and 2,950 pounds per affected woman, depending on the severity of the impact. The total potential cost was estimated at between 3.5 billion and 10.5 billion pounds across approximately 3.6 million affected women.
The government's response
In December 2024, the Labour government formally declined to implement the Ombudsman's recommended compensation scheme. The government's position, set out by Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds, was that the Ombudsman's recommended remedy was not proportionate and that the costs would be unaffordable. The government acknowledged the Ombudsman's finding of maladministration but disputed the scale and nature of the recommended remedy.
This response was highly controversial. The PHSO's role is to provide binding findings on government maladministration, and the government's refusal to implement the recommended remedy was described by some MPs and campaigners as setting a dangerous precedent for the Ombudsman's authority. The WASPI campaign described the decision as a betrayal.
As of June 2026, the matter remains unresolved. WASPI has indicated it is exploring legal avenues to challenge the government's refusal to implement the Ombudsman's recommendations. A cross-party group of MPs has continued to press the issue in Parliament. No compensation scheme has been established and no payments have been made to any affected women.
Who is affected and how to check
Women born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1960 are potentially affected by the WASPI campaign's concerns. The extent of the impact varies: women born earlier in this period faced a smaller change to their state pension age and had more time to adjust. Women born between 1953 and 1960, particularly those affected by the 2011 acceleration, faced the largest changes with the least notice.
To check your state pension age and entitlement, the government provides a state pension age checker at gov.uk/state-pension-age. You can also check your state pension forecast, which shows the amount you are entitled to based on your national insurance record, at gov.uk/check-state-pension. A full new state pension requires 35 qualifying years of national insurance contributions or credits.
Women who may have gaps in their national insurance record due to time spent caring, on low earnings or out of work can check whether they can fill those gaps via voluntary class 3 national insurance contributions or national insurance credits. HMRC's national insurance record is viewable via the HMRC personal tax account at gov.uk/personal-tax-account.
What WASPI women can do now
Despite the lack of a compensation scheme, there are practical steps affected women can take. Pension credit is available to those on low incomes who have reached state pension age: it tops up weekly income to a minimum of 218.15 pounds for a single person in 2026/27. Many eligible people do not claim pension credit despite being entitled to it. A claim can be made at gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
Women who retired early to care for others may be entitled to carer's credit, which fills gaps in the national insurance record for periods of caring. Applications are made via HMRC and can be backdated in some circumstances. Citizens Advice can provide free guidance on entitlements and can assist with pension credit claims.
The WASPI campaign maintains an active website at waspi.co.uk with updates on the legal and political situation. Women who wish to support the campaign or receive updates can register their details with WASPI directly.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Parliamentary Ombudsman find?
The Ombudsman found in March 2024 that DWP committed maladministration by failing to adequately notify women of changes to their state pension age between 1995 and 2004. The Ombudsman recommended compensation of 1,000 to 2,950 pounds per affected woman, which the government declined to implement in December 2024.
Will WASPI women receive compensation?
As of June 2026, no compensation scheme exists and no payments have been made. The government rejected the Ombudsman's recommended remedy in December 2024. WASPI is exploring legal challenges. The situation remains unresolved and contested.
Am I a WASPI woman?
If you were born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1960, you are potentially in the group affected by the state pension age changes. Use the checker at gov.uk/state-pension-age to confirm your state pension age and gov.uk/check-state-pension to see your forecast entitlement.
What is pension credit and do I qualify?
Pension credit tops up weekly income for people who have reached state pension age and are on a low income. The minimum income guarantee is 218.15 pounds per week for a single person in 2026/27. It is separate from the state pension and can be claimed even if you have some savings or income. Apply at gov.uk/pension-credit or call 0800 99 1234.
