The Department for Work and Pensions has formally confirmed the suspension of a crucial action plan related to the WASPI compensation investigation, while defending its controversial decision to halt progress. This significant development follows the government's ongoing reconsideration of whether to provide financial redress to women impacted by historic changes to the State Pension age.
Action Plan Formally Suspended
Sir Peter Schofield, the DWP Permanent Secretary, has officially declared that departmental work on the action plan has been paused. He maintains this suspension is necessary while government ministers retake the critical decision regarding financial compensation for affected women. The pause represents a substantial setback for the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign, which has been fighting for justice for years.
Ombudsman Expresses Serious Concerns
Paula Sussex, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, has raised serious concerns about the significant delays in implementing previously agreed reforms. She revealed she had been under the impression that progress was being made before discovering the work had actually stopped completely. The Ombudsman's office had previously suggested appropriate compensation levels between £1,000 and £2,950 for each woman impacted by the department's failings.
Government's Reasoning for the Pause
Government officials claim the suspension results from the serious exercise involved in reviewing the previous administration's policy. Because the new Secretary of State is thoroughly re-evaluating the entire case, the DWP cannot proceed with the original action plan as initially conceived. This review process has effectively brought all related work to a temporary standstill.
Progress Made Before Suspension
Before the recent suspension, internal workshops held earlier in the year had focused on improving departmental complaints procedures and communication strategies. A working draft of the comprehensive action plan had been completed by the end of summer, demonstrating that substantial preparatory work had already taken place before the decision to pause implementation.
Compensation Debate Continues
The government has previously argued that a multi-billion pound blanket compensation scheme could not be justified for taxpayers, creating ongoing tension with campaigners seeking redress. This fundamental disagreement about the scale and nature of compensation continues to underpin the current impasse, with affected women caught in the middle of this political and financial debate.
Digital Campaigns Continue
Despite the standstill on the official action plan, the DWP insists it continues to run digital campaigns to help people check their pension age accurately. Sir Peter maintains that these ongoing communication tools demonstrate the department's commitment to better transparency for future retirees, even as the compensation question remains unresolved for those already affected by the changes.
The situation leaves thousands of WASPI women in continued uncertainty about whether they will receive any financial compensation for the pension age changes that significantly impacted their retirement plans and financial security.
