DWP £2,950 Pension for Women born in the 1950s: The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign is once again in the headlines, as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released a fresh statement just hours before a critical deadline. This comes after WASPI campaigners took a strong legal stand, demanding justice and compensation for women born in the 1950s affected by sudden changes to their state pension age.
Who Are the WASPI Women?
WASPI stands for Women Against State Pension Inequality. These are women born in the 1950s who were hit hard when the government raised the state pension age to equal that of men — from 60 to 65, and later to 66. Many of these women say they were not properly informed about the changes and faced financial hardship as a result.
What Did the DWP Say?
In a recent official statement, the DWP said:
“We do not comment on live litigation. We accept the Ombudsman’s finding of maladministration and have apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women.”
However, the DWP also defended itself by saying that:
- By 2006, 90% of women born in the 1950s knew about the state pension age change.
- Only one in four women remembered reading official letters about the change.
- The Government believes it cannot justify spending £10.5 billion on a compensation scheme, saying it would be unfair to taxpayers.
Why Are WASPI Women Taking Legal Action?
The WASPI campaign argues that the government’s response is unfair and legally wrong.
- The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) had found that women affected should receive compensation — with suggested amounts of up to £2,950 each.
- Despite accepting that there was maladministration in how women were notified, the Government refuses to offer compensation, claiming no real injustice was suffered.
Angela Madden, Chairwoman of WASPI, strongly disagreed with this position, saying:
“The Government has accepted that 1950s-born women are victims of maladministration, but now says none of us suffered any injustice. We believe this is not only an outrage but legally wrong.”
What Happens Next?
To push their case forward, WASPI campaigners have:
- Sent a “letter before action” to the DWP, warning that if the issue isn’t resolved, they will take the case to High Court.
- Launched a £75,000 Crowdjustice campaign to raise funds for the legal battle.
- Given the DWP 14 days to respond, a deadline that passed two weeks ago, putting even more pressure on the government.
Ms. Madden added that the “gaslighting” of WASPI women by the government will not go unchallenged, showing their determination to fight for justice.
Government’s Reason for Refusing Compensation
The main reasons the Government is refusing to pay compensation are:
- They believe most women were aware of the pension changes.
- They argue that such a large payout would unfairly burden taxpayers.
- They claim that although there was a delay in communication, it did not cause serious injustice.
The WASPI fight highlights a larger debate about fairness, government accountability, and justice for women impacted by sudden policy changes. With the DWP standing firm and WASPI women ready to take legal action, the next few weeks could see significant developments in this long-running issue. Whether the High Court will get involved now depends on how the government responds — and WASPI supporters are watching closely.
FAQ
What is the WASPI campaign about?
WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) is a campaign fighting for justice and compensation for women born in the 1950s, who were negatively impacted by sudden changes to the state pension age. They argue that many women were not properly informed of the pension age increase, causing financial and emotional distress.
Why is the UK government refusing to compensate WASPI women?
The government admits there was maladministration in informing women about pension changes but refuses to compensate, claiming that by 2006, 90% of 1950s-born women knew about the state pension age rise. They argue that a £10.5 billion compensation scheme would be too expensive for taxpayers.
How much compensation are WASPI women asking for?
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has suggested that each affected woman should receive up to £2,950 in compensation. However, the UK government has rejected this recommendation, leading WASPI to consider legal action.
Is WASPI taking legal action against the UK government?
Yes, WASPI campaigners have sent a ‘letter before action’ to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) threatening High Court proceedings if the matter is not resolved. They have launched a £75,000 crowdfunding campaign to support their legal fight.
What is the current status of the WASPI legal fight?
WASPI gave the DWP a 14-day deadline to respond, which passed two weeks ago. They are now preparing to escalate the case to the High Court, as no resolution has been reached. More updates are expected soon as campaigners push forward.
Could you tell me how much it will make please bacteria PEP are also back the council tax thank you
Hello Steventurnbull,
Each women will get DWP £2,950
I was born in 1956. I keep seeing all different fomments about this ie saying were hoing yo get, then no we are not. So are we actually going to get £2,950 compensation from the government or not
I believe that all pensioners who were born in the 50”s should be compensated for the hardship they have suffered through no fault of there own who were treated very badly by the tory government who failed to notify women of the changes of their pension age being changed to 66 years old and who were not prepared for the extra year’s they would have to work and who ploughed on to earn enough money to live on even if they were not mentally fit to do so. Please compensate all the waspi’s for there hard work after the age of 60 when they had to continue to work when they should have been able to enjoy there retirement and to make plans for there future
Absolutely disgusting xan find money for war and foriengers boat poeple million aweek but us what’s payed in pot Absolutely nothing this government and country is a joke. An insult to the men who gave thier life for this dump of a country
Don’t believe we will get it
And women. Even the Queen had a roll in the war.
Theg have money for everything else, but cannot pay waspi 2,950..
All who were born in the 1950s should get this money..
They can pay other countries. But nothing for our country.. We as tax payers should come first..
You didn’t say no when you were taking our money
Hello Rosemarie,
Govt must give the 2950 pay to eligible woman
My wife was looking forward to retirement at the age of 60 she was a community carer and when she enquired with the company as of which date her retirement would happen and to her surprise she was told sorry you have another two years to do when it first went to 62 years of age. She never had no written notification from the DWP
I agree with all women having to struggle on until we reached 66 yrs old I was a school dinner lady for a good few years but had to give it up at 62 as my health I have arthritis in spine it is not fair that women has to fight on for a couple of thousand pounds is that all we are worth what a government no trust in them but if you come over in the boat loads they seem to get everything we will keep on fighting
I was looking forward to retiring at 60 with my pension as my husband and I were struggling with our bills, I was looking after my Grandchildren and my parents so I could not work. I had no notification on my pension being delayed until I reached my 66th birthday
I is 71 age I have pre months f-400 my Pension.
I was Born in 1956 .did not know about change of dates for my Pension. was not told until it was to late .My Name is Ann Conway I am now 69 years old and yes had to wait until I was 66 for my Pension.my date of birth is 29/02/1956 Regards Ann Conway can you keep me up to date .27 Court lands Avenue Lee SE12 8jj
Was waiting to get my pension at 60 to then find out would not arrive for another 6 years what have they spent our pension money on .
Do we have to register anywhere to be able to claim this payment if it is awarded or will it be payable to all women born in the 50s.
I was born 10/08/1955.
Thanks in advance
All these women could not retire at 60 years old and had to work on to 65, 66. Well, the money the government saved by not paying these women their pension for those years and all the extra tax paid by these women, while working these extra years SHOULD be enough to pay out the compensation. Saying the tax payer shouldn’t have to pay out is redundant…it is already paid for…by our hard work!!! I lost £43,000 in unpaid pension…£2,950 is a meager pittance compared!!!
here here , I lost over 50k . They used the money to bail out the banks and to put into parliamentary pensions. They thought we would just go quietly… they were wrong
Hello Victoria,
Like you I lost out on £43,000 and never received a letter. At the age 71 I’m still working and still paying this government TAX every month. It’s a joke.
I am 74 this year and I was not told about the increase I also went on married woman stamp
In 93 but was not told that if I got deviously that I would not no longer get part of my x husbands
Pension I was with him for 28years and worked all of that time and dpw said I was on married woman stamp since 1968 I did not know about it untell 1993 when I was inform I could go on it but the serps lady who come to tell us about it
And I phoned my wages department and as to go on it why did they not say your already on it
They did not because I was not and had never ask to go on it my x husband died in 2000 so what hapend to his Pension I was given to understand I would have had part of I am disabled and very sad that the department never explained the pit fulls
To me and many others at the time
I have been medical retired now for nearly 18years
I had worked hard since I was 15 yrs never asking
For anything in return
I am was born in. 1951 and this year I will be 74 and I was not told about the increase I also went on married woman stamp
In 1993 but was not told that if I got devious that I would not no longer get part of my x husbands
Pension I was with him for 28years and worked all of that time and dpw said I was on married woman stamp since 1968 I did not know about it untell 1993 when I was informed I could go on it by the serps lady who come to tell us about it
And I phoned my wages department and ask to go on it why did they not say your already on it
They did not because I was not and had never ask to go on it
My x husband died in 2000 so what hapend to his Pension I was given to understand I would have had part of I am disabled and very sad that the department never explained the pit fulls
To me and many others at the time
I have been medical retired now for nearly 17years
I had worked hard since I was 15 yrs never asking
For anything in return I was only given half the money for my baby,s dwp said at the time I did not have enough stamp but I worked full time for goschalk and son and marks and Spencer when I ask why thy told me it was up to me to find out who had not paid it I did not pursue it I moved got married 6 April 1968 worked and worked now I only have half a pention
I’m 74 year old lady pensioner who should’ve received my pension on my 60 birthday. I had to wait until I was 62yrs and 4onths to receive it. I heard about change of age from newspaper of the day so yes I could’ve done with money then ,but had to carry on work in I’ll health until I could receive my pension.
Yes you have to work
I was born in 1958, so will I be entitled to the back pay ?. If so do I have to do anything to be able to claim this.
Cedaw at law speak for me WASP yet again putting majority of women in a position as we should get what we paid in . Government used our dudes to bail out the banks . No letter Ect they owe us 6yrs of pension .
Theft yet even in 2026 still to right the wrong. It’s time this matter DWP own up to stealing ladies pension.my self only just got my SP in Jan 2025 . iLL Health yet paid full stamp cheated by own Gov
I was born 1959 I never had a letter what happing do any one really know we get pushed pillar to post
here here
Hello Victoria,
Like you I lost out on £43,000 and never received a letter. At the age 71 I’m still working and still paying this government TAX every month. It’s a joke.
I was born in October 1953, I planned to move abroad ,with the expectation of getting my pension at 60. I always paid a full stamp. I was not notified that the pension age was changing. And I did not get my pension until I was 64yrs 9mths. A shortfall of 4years and 9months. It did lead to hardship for me as we only had my husbands pension to rely on .
I started work at age 15 and worked as much as my bady would let me had children then worked had a fantastic job then became ill I was born in 1957 but was off sick from 1994 will I get the wasp payment if it ever happens ??
Left school at 16 and worked for DWP for 47 years. I never received any letters that state retirement was increasing. I found out with everyone else, when I was 56 and to late to make any plans to increase my retirement
I thought I would be able to retire at 60 and help my very ill, retired civil servant brother, but as I ad a mortgage with no state retirement pension I had to carry on. My brother died before I could retire and my own health suffered. I paid in 12 years more than I needed to and now they won’t pay out. It’s disgusting. Been labour all my life but no longer. Delayed pension. Heating allowance stopped. Occ pens taxed again after 40+ of paying in to same level as a single person who has only worked a few years. Now help after maladministration from gov’t. May as well not worked 40 years. Pensioners should have a higher tax threshold. No point in having an occ pen. Never vote Labour again.
I was a couple of years to thinking I would be retiring when a friend said she had gone online to register and found out it had gone up to 66 . My exact words to her were that can’t be right or we would have been informed. How stupid was I. So I had to plod on and as I was in a physical job had to keep cutting my hours until I reached 66 . So lost a lot of money in my last couple of years.
I was born In 54 .looking forward to my retirement.We where struggling on one pension of my hasbands to pay mortgage so my pension would of been a life line to keeping our house .As it turned out we lost the house an now renting .Had no idea penion was so far off an then risen again .Strugled when should of been slowing down .Yes Mr Starma we suffered hardship big style .I bet youv got a big pension to look forward to (not that you will need it) you get what we would only ever dream of .£2,950 is not 6 years penion we lost out on ..
I hope they get what they deserve, which is nothing. Just a bunch of chancers trying to get money for nothing.
My wife is a waspi woman and she definitely did not get a letter saying her pension age had changed whatever the DWP say they got letters
I am one of the waspi women.
I was born in 1955 I am now 69 years old, I was not told, and was looking forward to getting my pension at 60 years old, I’ve had to struggle, I am disabled, and had to wait until I was 66, to get my pension it’s disgusting, it’s wrong.
This government is more interested in spending money on people coming over illegally than looking after the pensioners and people that have paid their taxes in this country. That’s six years of pension that I and others have missed out on.
The DWP should sort this out and pay what they owe us women.
I was born in 1954. I didn’t get a letter from DWP Informing me that my State Pension age was changing.
I did get a letter I think when I was about 62 saying my State Pension age had changed again. I would now be 65 and 5 months instead of 62. So my State Pension age changed twice.
I only found out from one of my employers that I wouldn’t get my State Pension at 60. I was gutted having worked since I was 15.
Myself a waspi women born in 1958. I never received a letter telling me that the age had gone up to 66.
This is wrong of the government not to compensate us. We are just as important as everyone else. Yet we are being written off . We need to keep on to the government, otherwise we have lost out on six years of our money so we have got to keep fighting this. Just keep onto the government
Hello Andrea,
We are totally agree with you, Govt must inform about the change to all eligible pensioners.
I was born in 1956, l had no idea of the changes and certainly no notification. I became a carer for both my late parents which l never claimed any allowance since my feeling was that they looked after me when growing up and did my carring with the love for them. At the same time l worked from home full-time often into the early hours, the shock of no pension at the age of 60 was devastating and have had to continue working until this year being my 69th year but due to health issues have now had to finish. I have pride in caring for my parents and would not of changed it for the world but really let down by the government which stole my early years of pension.