WASPI Timeline

• October 2015

  Parliamentary petition launched in support of WASPI campaign.

• December 2015

  Evidence given at the Works and Pensions Select Committee inquiry into the early drawing of State Pension.

• April 2016

  WASPI local group network formed, with groups started all over the UK.

• May 2016

  WASPI All Party Parliamentary Group formed, with 120 MPs joining on the first day alone – membership now stands at over 140.

• June 2016

   

  Demonstration in London with estimated 2,500 in attendance.  MPs from all parties spoke in support of the campaign

• October 2016

  198 public petitions were presented and read in the House of Commons by 87 MPs.  process took 25 minutes and we believe was the largest number of petitions ever presented on one topic.

• October 2016

  Women Against State Pension Inequality Ltd formed, providing a legal entity to enable the campaign to instruct solicitors.

• October 2016

  A Crowdjustice fundraising appeal launched. The initial target of £50,000 was raised within hours, and the appeal went on to smash the stretch target of £75,000 and raised £100,000 in less than three weeks

• January 2017

  WASPI membership scheme launched

• March 2017

  WASPI demonstration on Budget Day.  7,000 attended, support from MPs of all parties and significant media coverage from mainstream media.

• April 2017

  Election called.  483 cross party candidates agreed to support WASPI if elected.  190 subsequently elected.

• June 2017

  Labour enhanced their manifesto pledge and committed to work with WASPI to find a fair solution.

• July 2017

  Pensions Minister Guy Opperman made his infamous suggestion that WASPI women should take up apprenticeships.

  Huge media coverage and a surge of new members resulted.

• July 2018

  Ombudsman confirms he will investigate WASPI women’s maladministration claims against the DWP

• September 2018

  Liberal Democrats confirmed they will support the recommendations of the Ombudsman when he issues his report.

• July 2021

  The Ombudsman issued Stage 1 of his report, confirming that there was maladministration on the part of the Department for Work and Pensions and commences Stages 2 and 3 of his enquiry.

• December 2022

  The Ombudsman issues Stage 2 and provisional Stage 3 report, on injustice caused by the maladministration and recompense recommended.

• February 2023

  Crowdjustice campaign launched to fund a Judicial Review into the Ombudsman’s Stage 2 report.

• May 2023

  After legal challenge from WASPI, the Ombudsman conceded his report was legally flawed and agreed to rewrite it.

• March 2024

  Final Ombudsman report published, establishing that the maladministration has caused injustice which requires compensation.  Because the Ombudsman doubts the willingness of the Department for Work and Pensions to comply with his recommendations, the report is laid before Parliament for them to act upon.

• May 2024

  WASPI gave evidence to the Works and Pensions Select Committee.   The Committee wrote to the Secretary of State for Works and Pensions urging him to set up a compensation scheme.

• September 2024

  Over 150 MPs from all parties attended a drop-in session in Westminster.  Strong support from Labour MPs.

• October 2024

  WASPI demonstration on Budget Day.  Large crowds attended and MPs from all parties supported.  Significant coverage from mainstream media.

• November 2024

  A parliamentary petition calling on the government to introduce a compensation scheme reached over 160,000 signatures.

• December 2024

  Secretary of State Liz Kendall responded to the Ombudsman’s report.  She announced that there will be no compensation for WASPI women.

• January 2025

  Sir John Hayes MP (Conservative) led a Westminster Hall debate to move that “This house has considered compensation for women affected by changes to the State Pension age”. You can read the full transcript of the debate here.

• February 2025

  WASPI issues a letter before claim, challenging the Government’s reasons for not paying compensation.

• February 2025

  A new Crowdjustice appeal to raise funds to challenge the Government decision not to award compensation was started.  It raised over £125,000 in a week.

• March 2025

  WASPI serve papers at Court challenging the government’s reasons for refusing to pay compensation. Roz Savage MP sponsors a debate in reply to the 160,000 signatures on a government petition.

• June 2025

  Permission was granted for our judicial review challenging the Government’s reasons for refusing to pay compensation and a costs capping order was agreed with the Goverment and approved by the court.

• July 2025

  Rebecca-Long Bailey MP led a Backbench Business debate on financial redress for WASPI women.  You can read the full transcript of the debate here.

• October 2025

  Drop-In event organised by WASPI in Parliament. Nearly 100 MPs attended from almost every political party. Many photographs were taken and WASPI received many personal messages of support. There can be viewed here