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DWP failed to adequately communicate changes to Women’s State Pension age

ended 21. March 2024

A comprehensive investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has found that thousands of women may have been affected by DWP’s failure to adequately inform them that the State Pension age had changed. 

PHSO Chief Executive Rebecca Hilsenrath, said:  

“The UK’s national Ombudsman has made a finding of failings by DWP in this case and has ruled that the women affected are owed compensation. DWP has clearly indicated that it will refuse to comply. This is unacceptable. The Department must do the right thing and it must be held to account for failure to do so.   

“Complainants should not have to wait and see whether DWP will take action to rectify its failings. Given the significant concerns we have that it will fail to act on our findings and given the need to make things right for the affected women as soon as possible, we have proactively asked Parliament to intervene and hold the Department to account.

“Parliament now needs to act swiftly, and make sure a compensation scheme is established. We think this will provide women with the quickest route to remedy.” 

You can read the full announcement >> here <<. Newspage asked pensions experts and IFAs for their thoughts, below.

2 responses from the Newspage community

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Joshua Gerstler
Chartered Financial Planner at The Orchard Practice
If the DWP did not act in line with the laws and regulations and people have suffered as a result then of course they should be compensated. My concern is that this issue, along with many others, is just leading us closer to the demise of the State Pension.
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Riz Malik
Independent Financial Adviser at R3 Wealth
It is shocking that the Ombundsman has no teeth. Compensation should be paid as a matter of urgency. Maybe a TV series needs to be made on the topic for the Government to take action? That seems to work.