DWP WASPI compensation warning ‘deeply concerning’.

WASPI women have been given a “deeply worrying” warning by campaign leaders.

Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) was set up to help women who have been adversely affected by the rise in the pension age – after not being properly informed about it. The women affected, who were born in the 1950s, say they were not correctly informed by the Government that their state pension age will rise by more than five years.

After a six-year investigation, the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman concluded on March 21 that women born in the 1950s affected by short-notice changes to the state pension age should be compensated. The Ombudsman then asked Parliament to step in and “act swiftly” to ensure a compensation scheme is put in place.

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And on Tuesday 18 June, WASPI president Angela Madden warned of a “deeply worrying” rise in fake claim forms appearing online. Ms Madden said a number of websites were encouraging those affected by the changes to share their personal data with unknown entities.

Several unofficial websites have appeared in recent days claiming that those affected by short notice State Pension age rises can claim up to £2,950 depending on their circumstances. The websites, which appear to originate from outside the UK, claim that women born in the 1950s can receive payments by submitting claim forms.

Ms Madden reminded those affected by the State Pension age change that any announcement of a compensation scheme for WASPI women would come directly from the UK Government. However, with no decision yet taken by ministers, no such scheme currently exists.

More than 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were affected after the Government failed to properly communicate pension age increases. The people worst affected were given just 18 months’ notice of a 6-year increase in the state pension age.

As a result, tens of thousands of people were plunged into poverty.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has yet to respond to the watchdog’s report. Meanwhile, a female WASPI dies every 13 minutes waiting for compensation.

Angela Madden said: “It is deeply concerning that a number of web pages have appeared in recent days encouraging those affected by changes to the State Pension age to provide their personal details via fake claim forms. The need for compensation is so urgent that it is the most vulnerable women who are most at risk, and the Government’s continued agitation is now opening up a space for scammers to target them.

“Any official announcement regarding compensation will be made by the UK government. Anyone who has given their personal details to a potentially fraudulent website should contact Action Fraud.”

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