Q&A - Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI)

Very confused since Carolyn Harris's latest efforts to help. Is this now just for women born 1953 or earlier? I am 63 and redundant 3 years ago. Unable to get another job though qualified, I got only 6m JSA and am now reliant on my husband's pension. NO income of my own for another 2.5 years, after 45 years of work. Disgusting to be abandoned by Government to life with no independence or self respect.

Are WASPI also highlighting the fact that the number of qualifying years has also increased from 30 to 35. So that while we thought we had enough years to get the full pension if we had 30 years, we then found out we had to pay extra?

GranJan I'm in the same position, I was born '54. Stopped work at 58 for various reasons. I don't get anything as I don't want to be looking for work.

I'd like to say that if it hadn't ben highlighted by Mhairi Black of the SNP and she KEPT it in the media there would probably be no WASPI group .Mhairi has fought for us 1950's women tirelessly and I for one would like to see her get the credit she's due

This Twitter picture neatly shows the way women have been treated with contempt

Through Twitter, Mhairi Black's contribution has been given much credit. Many other MPs and public figures have also been very supportive.

I'm 55, not in the best of health and feel like I will be working until I drop dead. The goal posts are forever moving. My husband is 10 years older than me and we hoped he could work until 70 and we could retire together when I was 60. Sadly no longer to be with my projected retirement age now set st 67.5. It's not fair .

I will finally receive my pension from 6th November, but not the full pension as I too got caught out by the qualifying years being increased from 30 to 35 - as I'm no longer working I didn't have the wherewithal to make up the shortfall in contributions. The cartoon above shows just how iniquitous the revised system is.

The Waspi website has letter templates to challenge the DWP, regarding the lack of information when the SPA was hiked up. I've sent four letters now and my case is being reviewed by and Independent Case Examiner.

What has happened to the legal case?

Is Labour supporting all 50's women. Dawn Butler said in an article on 11th September

"Labour during the General Election called for pension credits to be extended to women affected to help end the plight of the tens of thousands of women abandoned to live in poverty by the Tory Government’s changes to their state pension age"

Read more at: inews.co.uk/opinion/dawn-butler-pledge-waspi-women/

I have heard the wonderful Mhairi Black speak at both national WASPI demos and each time she described how she took up the cause after meeting the WASPI member who came to see her at her first surgery. WASPI was founded before Mhairi was elected and I'm sure she'd be the last person to want to take credit away from the founders.

And you're right, Hm999, many supporters from all parties have worked tirelessly behind the scenes. I'm sure I heard that the All Party Parliamentary Group supporting WASPI is the largest ever assembled, and still growing. Your graphic clearly highlights the unfairness of the situation - for someone to get their pension nearly three and a half years later than a friend born in the same year is clearly unjustifiable.

YES what has happened to the legal case nobody answers that question when it is asked.

I am in the same position I was born in 54 and worked from age 16, I now feel that we are working longer and the youngsters are staying on at college till 18 then on to Uni in some cases until 23/25. I had done 10 years work and paid into the system but cannot get any help and unfortunately unemployed at present and due to age feel that I cannot get a job in office admin/reception work as they want younger people that are quicker at learning new things and my looks are not like a 25 year old. Feeling ready to retire and enjoy life while I still have energy, looking at my husband and how he is deteriorating rapidly through diabetes and other health problems is also wearing me down.

susie22 So far, for the legal case, all I can find is that the law firm engaged, Bindmans, sent a letter of complaint to the Damien Green in March this year. There are updates on the crowdfunding page.
www.crowdjustice.com/case/waspi/
The latest statement seems to focus on maladministration.

I was born Sept 1953. I found out around 2010 that my SP date would be March 2017! That is bad enough. Then 2011 this was increased to March 2018, with no notification , and only 6 years to go !

I am now about to send my 4th letter from the templates on the WASPI website. This is to the ICE (Independant Case Examiner).

I know a lady whose birthdate was only 3 months before mine, yet she received her SP November 2016, 16 months before I do! We need to keep the pressure on!

I am one of the lucky ones who was born before the WASPI dates but I would like to support the campaign. Is there a legal challenge being made and if so is there anywhere I can contribute?

NANNYJAN don't know how your lady received her pension in nov 2016 as I was born july 1953 and I have just rec'd my sp on 6th july 2017

susie22 this is what she told me. However, you are getting your SP 8 months before I do, despite being only 2 months older!

This inequality in the rise and the fact most of the 50's ladies were not informed in plenty of time is the campaign WASPI is fighting for.

I've just checked on the Gov.UK site, susie22, and November 2016 is correct for a woman born in early June 1953. For someone born in mid July 1953 it was indeed 6 July 2017, so eight months later.

The graph Hm999 posted above shows the dates for some of the women born in your year.

So many 1950s women have researched the background of the baffling timetable and found statements by Ministers and advisory boards. Waspi Board members don't seem to use this information. Why not pass it along to coordinators and Bindmans ?

I'm a 1955 birth. Not only will I now not get my pension until I'm 66, I've just found out that, when I do, it won't be the full pension. Why? Because my employer opted out - I have no recollection of having been notified of this. Who was my employer? - The Government!! So, despite having 40 full qualifying years, I won't get what I thought I would get. Maybe I should have been more on the case but I was bringing up three children single handed and working full time - so not a lot of spare energy for checking such things.

I can't get my head round this. My birthdate is Sept 1953 and I get my pension next month - just started the claim for it.