Campaigners representing millions of women affected by changes to their state pension age have received a dramatic, last-minute development in their long-running fight for compensation.
Urgent Court Hearing Scheduled
The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign has announced that the court overseeing its judicial review has arranged an 11th hour case management hearing. This urgent session is set for 3 December 2025 and will last for two and a half hours.
Its purpose is to consider the implications of a recent government U-turn. Last month, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions committed to reconsidering a December 2024 decision that rejected the Parliamentary Ombudsman's findings on injustice and compensation.
The Stakes of the Legal Battle
Despite this new hearing, the full judicial review challenging the government's original rejection remains formally listed for 9 and 10 December 2025. The campaign is proceeding with legal action to ensure the government follows through on its promise.
Angela Madden, Chair of the WASPI campaign, stated that the government's agreement to reconsider was a major step forward. She explained it came because the government finally accepted that crucial evidence was ignored by the minister who initially dismissed the Ombudsman's report.
"However," Madden added, "the Government has since been coy about how it will go about reconsidering and the timescale. Our lawyers have been pressing the Government on these and other matters."
A Race Against Time for Justice
Madden emphasised that the imminent court hearings might become unnecessary, but only if campaigners can be confident the government is conducting its reconsideration properly and in good faith.
She stressed the immense public interest in the case, noting it impacts not only the millions of WASPI women but also undermines public trust in the entire Ombudsman system for resolving grievances against public authorities.
The campaign delivered a sobering reminder of the human cost of the delay, stating: "Most importantly of all, every 13 minutes, a WASPI woman dies without seeing justice." This statistic underscores the urgent need for a resolution as the women continue their fight for the recommended £2,950 compensation payout.
