🚨 “It Is Nearly Over” — The long fight for WASPI compensation is finally nearing its end.

After years of waiting, hardship, and relentless campaigning, the DWP chief has issued a key update: a decision on payouts for 1950s-born women affected by state pension age changes is set to be reported to Parliament before the beginning of March.

These women, who faced sudden retirement delays without proper notice, are hoping this deadline delivers the justice and financial relief they’ve deserved for so long.

The wait has been agonizing—could closure finally be here? 💪👵

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The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign, representing hundreds of thousands of women born in the 1950s who were impacted by increases to the state pension age, appears to be approaching a pivotal moment. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that a reconsidered decision on potential compensation for maladministration in communicating the changes will be reported to Parliament before the beginning of March 2026. This timeline stems from commitments made by Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden and aligns with an out-of-court settlement that paused a judicial review.

The issue traces back to legislative changes under the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011, which gradually equalized the state pension age for men and women at 65, then accelerated the rise to 66. Women born in the 1950s often learned of these shifts late or not at all through official channels, forcing many to adjust retirement plans abruptly, face financial hardship, or delay life milestones. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) investigated and found maladministration by the DWP, recommending compensation ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 per affected woman in a 2024 report.

In December 2024, the previous government accepted the maladministration finding and issued an apology but rejected a blanket compensation scheme, citing costs potentially exceeding £10 billion. This prompted WASPI to pursue a judicial review. However, in November 2025, the current Labour government announced it would retake the decision after considering overlooked evidence. The move led to an out-of-court agreement in December 2025, where the DWP covered £180,000 in WASPI’s legal costs and committed to a new decision within three months—meaning by early March 2026.

Pensions Minister Torsten Bell reiterated this commitment in a January 2026 Commons exchange, stating: “As the Secretary of State set out on 11 November 2025, we are re-taking the decision… We have committed in public to doing so within three months of the decision in December, which means a decision will be reported to the House before the beginning of March.”

Further clarity came during a January 21, 2026, session of the Work and Pensions Committee, where DWP Permanent Secretary Sir Peter Schofield addressed delays in implementing an action plan to prevent future communication failures. Schofield explained that progress on the plan paused pending the compensation review, describing a working draft already in place but withholding full release until the secretary of state’s decision. He expressed surprise at the Ombudsman’s January letter raising “serious concerns” over inaction but affirmed ongoing work to ensure such maladministration does not recur.

WASPI chair Angela Madden welcomed the deadline while urging swift resolution: “It’s high time that ministers stopped stalling and started compensating WASPI women.” The group has garnered support from over 100 MPs, who signed a letter pressing McFadden for an update by March 2 at the latest. Campaigners emphasize the human impact—many women endured poverty, health issues, or lost opportunities due to unexpected delays in pension access.

The potential payout, if approved, would likely follow the Ombudsman’s £1,000–£2,950 range, though no final figure has been confirmed. Critics of compensation argue the changes were debated in Parliament and publicized broadly, while supporters highlight inadequate individual notifications, particularly for those nearing retirement age.

As the March deadline looms, anticipation builds among the affected women, many now in their 70s. The WASPI campaign, active for over a decade, has mobilized widespread public sympathy, with petitions and cross-party backing underscoring the issue’s resonance. Whatever the outcome, the decision will mark a significant chapter in a saga that has exposed flaws in government communication on major policy shifts.

The DWP has reiterated its commitment to transparency, with Bell stating updates will follow as soon as conclusions are reached. For the women who have waited years—some tragically passing before resolution—the coming weeks could bring long-sought relief or continued disappointment. The fight, as many describe it, is nearing its end, with hopes pinned on a fair and compassionate outcome.