Worcestershire's WASPI women set for compensation over state pension

More than 7,000 women in West Worcestershire, another 7,000 in Mid Worcestershire and a further 5,000 plus in Worcester may be eligible for some compensation, according to a new report. 

Campaign group, Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) estimates that some 3.6 million women were affected when they were not properly informed about increases to their state pension age. 

And they say Worcestershire as a whole ranks amongst one of the highest areas in the country for the number of women affected.

The figures come as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman concluded that millions of women affected by pension short-notice changes should be compensated, after an investigation taking six years.

However, the Ombudsman also found the action overall was lawful and did not discriminate against women born in the 1950s.

West Worcestershire ranks second highest in the West Midlands and 12th overall in the country with an estimated 7,300 women affected by the changes. 

West Worcestershire: Harriet Baldwin (Image: UK Parliament)

Harriet Baldwin, West Worcestershire MP said: "As a 63-year old woman whose own state pension age has risen by over six years during my working lifetime, I welcome equality between women and men in the workplace and with regard to state pension age.

"The courts have made it clear that under successive governments dating back to 1995, the action to equalize state pension age was entirely lawful and did not discriminate on any grounds.

She added that the ombudsman did not find that 1950s-born women suffered a direct financial loss.

There were an estimated 7,030 women in Mid Worcestershire affected.

Mid Worcestershire: Nigel Huddleston (Image: UK Parliament)

Nigel Huddleston, Mid Worcestershire MP, said he had been following the campaign closely.

He added: "While it is clear that WASPI women are entitled to some level of compensation, scrutiny is necessary to agree on what level that should be.

"The government promises that there will be no undue delay in compensation and it is working to reach a decision on fair compensation."

Fewer Worcester women were affected - an estimated 5,170. 

Worcester: Robin Walker (Image: UK Parliament)

Robin Walker, Worcester's MP, said he had taken up the WASPI women's case on numerous occasions.

He said: "I think it is important that the government properly considers this report and responds to it.

"However I do think that it is fundamentally fairer that we now have equality in state pension age and the age of retirement between men and women and it is notable that the ombudsman did not find that 1950s women suffered direct financial loss."