A High Court judge has confirmed that the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign’s legal challenge against the Government will commence on 9 December 2025, as new research reveals that 72 per cent of affected women remain deeply concerned about their financial situation.
The two-day hearing, on 9 and 10 December 2025, will see Waspi campaigners present their case to a senior High Court judge, before government lawyers outline their defence, with a final decision in the case expected around spring 2026. The judicial review will examine ministers’ rejection of compensation recommended by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for approximately 3.5 million women born in the 1950s.
Representatives from the Department for Work and Pensions will defend the Government’s controversial decision to refuse financial redress, despite accepting that maladministration occurred in communicating State Pension age changes to affected women.
The legal showdown follows Labour’s bombshell announcement in December 2024, when Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall apologised for a 28-month delay in sending letters, but said there was “considerable awareness” of the changes and ruled out any compensation scheme.
Angela Madden, Chair of WASPI, declared: “With our day in court now on the horizon, we are more determined than ever to secure the fair compensation that WASPI women deserve.”
Parliamentary Ombudsman’s Damning Findings
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s investigation, which concluded in March 2024, found the DWP guilty of maladministration. Research reported in 2004 showed that information about State Pension age changes was not reaching the people who needed it most.
The Ombudsman determined that if DWP had made a reasonable decision in August 2005 and then acted promptly, it would have written to affected women to tell them about changes to their State Pension age by, at the latest, December 2006. This is 28 months earlier than DWP actually wrote to them.
Following these findings, the Ombudsman recommended compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 per woman, which could cost the Treasury up to £10.5 billion. However, the Government’s refusal to implement these recommendations has sparked outrage across the political spectrum.
Government’s Controversial Rejection
In her December 2024 statement to Parliament, Liz Kendall argued that “we cannot accept that – in the great majority of cases – sending a letter earlier would have affected whether women knew their State Pension age was rising or would have increased their opportunities to make informed decisions.”
The Work and Pensions Secretary cited research suggesting that “only around a quarter of people who are sent unsolicited letters actually remember receiving and reading them.” The Government maintained that most women were already aware of the changes through other means.
This stance has been fiercely contested by WASPI campaigners, who argue that the Government’s interpretation of survey data is fundamentally flawed. The group argues that the government’s claim that 90 per cent of WASPI women knew about the changes misuses survey data, as only 200 women from the 1950s were surveyed.
Cross-Party Condemnation
The Government’s decision has united MPs across party lines in condemnation. SNP work and pensions spokesperson Kirsty Blackman labelled it a “devastating betrayal of millions of Waspi women. Even Labour MPs expressed dismay, with MP Brian Leishman stating he was “appalled” and describing the decision as “an incredible let down.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey described it as “a day of shame for the Government”, urging ministers to implement the Ombudsman’s findings without further delay.
The betrayal feels particularly acute given Labour’s previous stance whilst in opposition. In 2019, Angela Rayner made it clear that Labour would ‘right the injustice’ the Waspi women suffered, within the five years of a Labour government.
Financial Hardship Intensifies
Recent polling of more than 5,000 WASPI women has revealed the stark reality of their financial struggles. The survey found that almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of Waspi women are still concerned about their finances, with many feeling that the government has “taken their votes for granted”.
Previous research painted an even grimmer picture, with one in four women born in the 1950s struggling with food bills and the cost of everyday essentials, whilst one in three women pensioners report experiencing debt in the last six months.
The campaign has highlighted that close to 30 percent of affected women had already left work by the time they found out their state pension age had moved from 60 to 66.
Legal Battle Preparations
Government lawyers are also expected to submit supporting documentation to the Waspi lawyers regarding their defence following confirmation of the hearing date, along with ‘Detailed Grounds of Resistance’ that fully explain that defence in advance of the hearing.
The campaign group has successfully secured crucial financial safeguards for the legal challenge. The agreement limits Waspi liability for government legal costs to £60,000, and caps the government’s liability for Waspi legal costs at £90,000.
WASPI has raised substantial funds through crowdfunding, with over £208,000 ($278,763) towards a £230,000 ($308,177) target to cover legal costs. This follows earlier successes, including raising £225,000 for initial legal preparations.
Historic Context and Ongoing Impact
The controversy stems from changes introduced by the 1995 Pensions Act, which raised women’s State Pension age from 60 to 65, with implementation accelerated by the 2011 Pensions Act under the Coalition Government. Both the 1995 and 2011 changes came as a shock to many, with women discovering that they would have to wait up to six years longer for their state pension, potentially affecting their retirement plans.
The WASPI campaign, formed in 2015 by five women to argue for the government to provide transitional payments to women born in the 1950s, has grown into a nationwide movement backed by trade unions, MPs, and public opinion polls.
What Happens Next
If the High Court rules in Waspi’s favour, it could prompt the government to review its handling of the ombudsman’s recommendations; however, it cannot require the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to provide direct compensation.
The judicial review will examine whether the Government’s rejection of the Ombudsman’s recommendations breaches legal principles, particularly given ministers’ acceptance that maladministration occurred.
A senior High Court judge has already ruled that Waspi case is “arguable” and “ought to be considered at a final hearing”, providing hope to campaigners that ministers could be ordered to reconsider their position.
Wider Implications
Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb warned that the Government’s rejection sets a dangerous precedent. If it is acceptable for a Department to completely reject the findings of a report by the independent Parliamentary Ombudsman, this strikes a blow at the heart of the whole process.
He added: “There is a risk that governments will now feel emboldened to ‘pick and choose’ when faced with a critical Ombudsman report, effectively setting themselves up as judge and jury.”
As WASPI women prepare for their day in court, the campaign continues to gather momentum. With parliamentary debates scheduled and public support growing, the December hearing represents a crucial moment in their decade-long fight for justice.
The outcome could determine not only the fate of compensation for millions of women but also the authority of the Parliamentary Ombudsman system itself.
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