Ministers have confirmed there will be no compensation for women affected by changes to the state pension age, following a short review prompted by the emergence of a 2007 survey. In a statement to the House of Commons on 29 January 2026, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the Government had reconsidered the case but concluded redress would not be appropriate.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) accepted that individual letters informing people of the timetable could have been sent earlier, repeating the apology previously issued by then Secretary of State Liz Kendall. Mr McFadden said departmental evidence suggested most of those affected were already aware through public information campaigns and that many would not have engaged with an unsolicited letter even if sent sooner.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) recommended in 2024 a remedy in the range of £1,000 to £2,950 per person to reflect maladministration in communications. The PHSO’s recommendations are not binding, and ministers cited the watchdog’s earlier finding that the delay in letter‑writing did not cause direct financial loss.
Officials said a flat‑rate compensation scheme would cost up to £10.3bn and would, in practice, pay the vast majority who were already aware of the change. The Government added that constructing an individualised scheme to focus on those demonstrably unaware would not be practicable to administer.
The latest review followed the discovery of a 2007 survey that had not been provided to Ms Kendall during earlier consideration. Mr McFadden told MPs he had checked whether any other relevant documents had been overlooked and maintained that the department’s overall evidence base remained sound.
Campaign group Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) criticised the decision, describing it as showing “utter contempt”. Chair Angela Madden called the outcome “appalling” and said the group is taking legal advice, stating they are prepared to pursue action through the courts.
Individuals affected continue to report working for longer than planned. Pat Pollington, 71, told the BBC she remained in employment for years beyond her expectation and described the handling as a “fiasco”, arguing that compensation would be affordable within the wider public finances.
Political reaction has been sharp. The Conservative Party accused ministers of “cynical politics”. Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson Steve Darling MP said affected women would feel “utterly betrayed”, citing what he called “false hope” last autumn. Plaid Cymru’s Ann Davies MP argued communications were rushed and unfair and that an apology without redress is insufficient.
The legislative basis for the change is longstanding. Parliament legislated to equalise and then increase the state pension age, first through the Pensions Act 1995 and later by accelerating the timetable and raising the age further in the Pensions Act 2011. The PHSO subsequently found DWP’s communication approach amounted to maladministration, but it cannot compel the Government to pay compensation.
Campaigners say 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were not adequately informed of the shift in entitlement age. Today’s decision means no blanket redress scheme will be created; entitlement rules are unchanged. Any future movement now depends on political decisions, potential litigation or further parliamentary scrutiny rather than administrative review.