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Young Voters Rally Behind WASPI Compensation as Government Review Deadline Looms

Ministers face a February 24 deadline to reassess the ombudsman’s compensation recommendation.

Overview

  • New polling shows 66% of 18–34 year-olds support compensating 1950s-born women affected by state pension age changes, with 53% calling for a parliamentary debate and vote.
  • WASPI has launched a mass campaign to send up to one million letters to MPs, saying tens of thousands have already been posted since the New Year.
  • The government has agreed to reconsider the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s findings within 12 weeks and to pay more than half of WASPI’s legal costs, pausing a High Court hearing.
  • The ombudsman recommended payments of about £1,000 to £2,950 per eligible person, implying a total bill of roughly £3.5bn to £10.5bn, while noting not all affected women experienced an injustice.
  • Debate continues over whether any scheme should be means-tested, with critics warning about costs and WASPI arguing compensation should not depend on recipients’ wealth.