The Department for Work and Pensions is once again under intense fire after MPs raised “serious concerns” over continued delays in resolving the long-running WASPI women’s state pension compensation scandal. The criticism comes as the government appears to be quietly re-examining its earlier refusal to pay compensation — a move campaigners say is long overdue for millions of women left financially and emotionally damaged by sudden pension age changes.
WASPI women, born in the 1950s, argue they were given little or no proper notice when the state pension age was increased, leaving many unable to plan for retirement. Some were forced to keep working despite ill health, while others fell into debt or poverty. For years, campaigners have accused successive governments of dismissing their suffering and hiding behind technicalities.
Now, pressure inside Parliament is mounting. Dozens of MPs from across the political spectrum have urged ministers to stop dragging their feet and deliver a clear, fair compensation scheme. They warn that continued delay is compounding the injustice — especially after watchdog findings acknowledged failures in how changes were communicated.
Campaigners say the latest signals from government, suggesting a rethink of its hardline stance, only deepen frustration. “If ministers now accept something went wrong, why are women still waiting?” one campaigner asked. Many see the hesitation as a political calculation, with the DWP accused of stalling to avoid the financial and moral cost of action.
MPs have warned that public anger is growing, particularly as affected women age and some die without ever seeing acknowledgment, let alone redress. The issue has become a symbol of wider distrust in how the state treats ordinary people — especially women — when policy decisions go wrong.
The message from Parliament is becoming harder to ignore: this is no longer just a campaign issue, but a test of credibility and fairness. For WASPI women, the demand is simple — recognition, accountability, and justice. And for the government, the clock is running out.