AN MP is demanding a Government apology and compensation for women impacted after a watchdog ruled officials were too slow to tell many them they would be affected by the rising pension age.

City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy has written to Work and Pensions Secretary Dr Thérèse Coffey and Pensions Minister Guy Opperman, following an investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman.

It found “failings” in the communication of the DWP to women born in the 1950s that were affected by changes to the retirement age.

The ruling marks a “significant victory” for the Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign.

Writing to a local Waspi campaign group Mary said: “I was proud to be elected on a manifesto that would have compensated women born in the 1950s who were essentially robbed of their full pensions due to unfair changes to State Pension Age - changes which were imposed by the Conservative Government.

“That’s why I’ve written to the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions, Thérèse Coffey MP and the Minister for Pensions, Guy Opperman MP, following the Ombudsman’s recent ruling of maladministration, to ask for a full apology for the failings of the Department for Work and Pensions.

 

“Not only that, these women are owed a debt of honour and should also be fully compensated for the money they have lost because of proven Government failings.”

The letter highlights the added pressures now facing the very same women that have lost out on money as a result of the DWP’s malpractice, noting the perfect storm of insecurity that the pandemic has left in its wake.

Ms Kelly Foy wrote: “The financial situation for many of these women has been made worse as a result of the pandemic, especially for women whose jobs are in the hospitality and domestic sectors.

“These women have endured years of mental anguish brought about by the now proven failings of your department.”

A DWP spokesperson said: “Both the High Court and Court of Appeal have supported the actions of the DWP, under successive governments dating back to 1995, and the Supreme Court refused the claimants permission to appeal.

“In a move towards gender equality, it was decided more than 25 years ago to make the State Pension age the same for men and women.”

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