The UK Government has apologized to women born in the 1950s who were affected by changes to their State Pension age, but rejected calls for compensation. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) said the apology was significant, but the decision not to accept its recommendations was disappointing.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), Rebecca Hilsenrath, has said the UK Government’s apology to 1950s-born women affected by changes to their State Pension age is “very significant” but its decision “not to accept the recommendations in full” of the final report, is “disappointing and will have been hard for the women to hear”.
Ms Hilsenrath also said that throughout the PHSO’s six-year long investigation, the DWP “indicated it would not comply with our recommendations and that is why, nine months ago, we asked Parliament to intervene.” On Tuesday, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall announced that there will be no compensation for an estimated 3.5 million women. The PHSO’s final report, published on March 21, stated that “Parliament must urgently identify a mechanism for providing that appropriate remedy” and recommended compensation equivalent to level four on its banding scale, which is worth between £1,000 and £2,950. Shortly after Ms Kendall’s statement to MPs in Parliament, Ms Hilsenrath released an official response from the Ombudsman’s office, which said: “The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has responded to recommendations made following our investigation into DWP's communication of changes to women's State Pension age. “The Government’s apology to the women affected by its failure to communicate about State Pension age changes is very significant and it is sad that women had to wait so long to hear it - sadder still that for many it came too late. I welcome the Government’s recognition that mistakes were made, and the commitment from the Secretary of State to make sure this never happens again. “We look forward to hearing more about the action plan to take this work forward and we are ready to work with the Government to support change.” The Ombudsman added: “However, the Government’s decision not to accept our recommendations in full is disappointing and will have been hard for the women to hea
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