THE SNP are pushing the UK Government to introduce a compensation scheme for women impacted by increases in the state pension age.
In 1995, the UK Government announced that it would be gradually increasing the age women were entitled to receive their state pension from 60 to 65 in order to bring it into line with men.
However, the Women Against State Pension Inequality, or “Waspi”, campaign mobilised in 2015 to argue for compensation for women born in the 1950s, who they say were most negatively impacted by the change.
Campaigners say they were not given enough notice or detail on the changes, with millions being pushed into financial hardship after their retirement plans were left in tatters.
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On Wednesday, SNP MP Alan Brown brought a bill to the House of Commons which, if passed, would force the UK Government to publish proposals for a compensation scheme for women born in the 1950s who have been impacted by the changes in state pension age.
It is estimated that more than 250,000 women affected by the changes have already died while waiting for compensation.
In 2021, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman determined that the Department of Work and Pensions was guilty of maladministration with regard to the changes.
“It is a disgrace that there is still no resolution for the 3.8 million women born in the 1950s who were given the bombshell that their state pension age was to increase without adequate notice,” said Brown.
“For nine years this Tory government has ignored the plight of these women.
“These women, who were left unable to do any financial planning, with many already in ill health and unable to work, or having taken early retirement expecting to get by until the age of 60, deserve compensation.
“It is now more urgent than ever against the backdrop of Westminster's cost of living crisis.
“That is why I am using my Ten Minute Rule Bill to try to force the Westminster government to take action and the first steps towards setting up compensation for the millions of women who have been wronged.
“I am grateful for the cross-party support for my bill and hope that this puts pressure on the UK Government to do the right thing and ensure the millions of women are compensated for the injustice they have faced.
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“My SNP colleagues and I have consistently kept the pressure up on the UK Government to act on this scandal, showing why it is important to have a strong team of SNP MPs at Westminster, standing up for Scotland and the people that live there.”
The state pension age currently sits at 66-years-old but is set to rise to 67 between May 2026 and March 2028.
From 2044 onwards it is expected to rise to 68, with some experts claiming it must rise to 71 due to the high rate of workers exiting the workforce before they reach state pension age.
The State Pension Age (Compensation) Bill’s second reading stage was listed for Friday April 19, but it will be unlikely to progress through the Parliament without the UK Government’s support.
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