Leeds Older People’s Forum is disappointed by the Government’s decision not to uphold the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s recommendations to compensate the women affected by the lack of notice regarding the State Pension age increases (1995 and 2011 Pensions Acts).
Our Manifesto For Change, released in October 2024, was written to amplify the needs and concerns of older people in Leeds and to influence politicians and policy-makers. A high-priority recommendation of ours, in line with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report, was for the women affected to receive compensation to account for the lack of “accurate, adequate and timely information” that meant some could not make informed decisions about their finances.
On International Women’s Day this year, we spoke to Jan, who set up Leeds’ WASPI group in 2019 when she found the city didn’t have one. It now covers West Yorkshire, and she moderates the National WASPI Facebook page with a small team of volunteers nationwide.
“Jan worked until she was 68 through choice and because she was in good health. Not all women are so lucky and are forced to work longer in poor health. On top of this, many of Jan’s WASPI colleagues care for their parents, partners and family members while offering childcare to their grandchildren. All an incredible contribution to our communities.”
Older women play a vital role in society, contributing across various spheres, including family, community, and the economy. As caregivers, many support grandchildren, ageing partners, and relatives, often enabling younger generations to pursue careers. They bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the workforce, with many excelling in leadership roles or volunteering in community organisations.
We strongly encourage the Government to reconsider its position on compensation for all the women affected.
What’s next?
The WASPI campaign is considering its next steps and urges people to wait while they draft a letter that can be sent to local MPs. Updates can be found on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WaspiCampaign as well as their website: https://www.waspi.co.uk/