Women Against State Pension Inequality


The campaign group Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) says that some 2.6 million women have had their SPA delayed — in some cases twice, and by up to six years in total — without proper notice, leaving them no time to prepare adequately for their later retirement date. The women affected were born in the 1950’s – on or after 6th April 1951.


The group agrees with equalising the pension age for men and women, but disagrees with the unfair way the faster than promised changes were implemented, with little or no personal notice and consequently no time to make alternative plans. It had “devastating consequences”, with “shattered” retirement plans. 



WASPI is demanding a “bridging” pension to provide an income until SPA, not means-tested, and compensation for losses for those women who have already reached their SPA. 


The group is also pursuing a legal challenge, as well as maladministration complaints to the DWP, regarding the changes in SPA for women born in the 1950s.


Public services union UNISON and teaching union NASWUT are among the unions supporting the campaign. WASPI held its second national demonstration on 8 March, International Women’s Day, and coincidentally the day of the March Budget.