Tens of thousands of
Women who lost out in the state pension age scandal have demanded ministers stop dragging their heels and finally pay compensation. Furious WASPI campaigners say it is "unacceptable" for the Government to delay as they warn thousands of victims have already died. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman last month found the changes to the state pension age for women born in the 1950s were not communicated adequately. Its report said those affected should receive an apology and compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950, costing between £3.5billion and £10.5billion. But victims say this is not enough and are pushing for a higher figure. The Tories refused to say before MPs went on their Easter break whether they will pay compensation. Campaigners estimate one affected woman is dying every 13 minutes - over 110 a day. Now 150,000 supporters have now signed a petition demanding an urgent vote in the House of Commons . Angela Madden, who chairs the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign group, said: “It is unacceptable for the government to treat the Ombudsman’s report as if it were War and Peace or some very complicated and controversial plan to change the ‘offside rule’. "The report contains three straightforward conclusions: the DWP failed us very badly; WASPI women should be compensated; Parliament should intervene to set up a scheme. Without proper time being made available in the Commons for a debate and vote on compensation, MPs essentially have their hands tied behind their backs on this." Failures by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) meant millions of women born in the 1950s didn't know the state pension age was rising from 60 to 65, and then to 66. This plunged tens of thousands into poverty, and tragically an estimated 270,000 women have died without receiving payment or an apology. Ms Madden, who quit working at 58 to spend time with her seriously ill mother, unaware of the change, says the compensation settlement should be over £10,000. WASPI estimates affected women lost out on over £50,000 in state pension payments on average. The PHSO said it was taking the "rare but necessary" step of getting Parliament to intervene because of the "scale of the impact of DWP’s maladministration" and the urgent need to put it right. The watchdog's chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath, said: “DWP has clearly indicated that it will refuse to comply. This is unacceptable. The Department must do the right thing and it must be held to account for failure to do so." She went on: “Parliament now needs to act swiftly, and make sure a compensation scheme is established." Join our Mirror Politics
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