Compensating Waspi women ‘not fair or value for taxpayer’, Liz Kendall says | Politics News

It would not be fair on taxpayers to compensate women affected by changes to their retirement age, the government has said.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall today issued an apology for a 28-month delay in sending out letters to those born in the 1950s impacted by the state pension changes – so-called “waspi” women.

However, she said she doesn’t accept that compensation should be paid.

Follow politics latest: Reaction to Waspi decision

Ms Kendall said the “great majority of women knew the state pension age was increasing” and that a state-funded pay-out wouldn’t be “fair or value for taxpayers’ money'”.

The announcement was branded a “day of shame” by the Liberal Democrats, who accused the Labour government of “turning its back on millions of pension-age women who were wronged”.

It comes after an investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found that thousands of women may have been adversely impacted by the government’s failure to adequately inform them of the change to their retirement age.

The watchdog suggested that women should receive compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 – but the findings were not legally binding.

Ms Kendall said that would have cost up to £10.5 billion, which is not “fair or proportionate”.

However she did accept the Ombudsman’s finding of maladministration in communicating the changes.

Women Against State Pension Inequality – often known as Waspi women – say millions suffered financially as they were not given sufficient warning to prepare for the later retirement age.

Speaking to reporters after the announcement, Sir Keir Starmer said he understood the campaign group’s concerns but the government had to protect the taxpayer.

The prime minister said: “I do understand, of course, the concern of the Waspi women. But also I have to take into account whether it’s right at the moment to impose a further burden on the taxpayer, which is what it would be.”

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