Fri 26 Jul 2024

 

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I’m a Waspi woman forced to sell half my house – Labour must compensate us

Julie Hince warned the Government against kicking the issue of compensation into the 'long grass'

Waspi women say they are running out of patience with Labour over the Government’s failure to commit to compensation for those affected by state pension age changes.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall claimed the Conservative government “ran away” from the issue, as she appealed for more time to consider an official report recommending compensation.

However, the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign said Labour was in danger of repeating the same “thin excuses” as the Tories.

Julie Hince, a 64-year-old Waspi campaigner in Dorset, told i: “I’m very disappointed in Labour.

“I find it incredible they say they need to think about it. Labour had been saying it was disgraceful for the Conservatives to kick it into the long grass. They cannot do the same thing.”

Ms Hince claimed that she had not been properly notified by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of the decision to raise the pension age for women.

There are an estimated 3.6 million women, born in the 1950s, who expected to start getting their pension at 60, but had to wait another five or six years due to increases in the state pension age to equalise it with men’s.

The so-called Waspi women say they experienced financial and emotional distress because they were not given adequate notice from the government about the changes.

Ms Hince retired from her teaching job at 58 to spend more time with her grandchildren, believing she could count on her state pension when she turned 60.

However, she was then “shocked” to discover her retirement age had been raised to 66.

“It’s been a terrible struggle since then,” she told i. “I had enough savings to get me through until 60. But I used those up, then had to take up part-time jobs to help.”

Ms Hince sold half of her house to a friend. The 50 per cent ownership agreement saw the acquaintance move into the cottage in Dorset.

“The only thing I could do to manage to get by was to sell half my house to a friend of mine. We became joint owners. In the process, I was able to pay off the mortgage.

“It was a necessity. It was either that or leave the home where my children had grown up and where I’d lived for 24 years,” said the former teacher.

She added: “It’s not ideal at 64, because I was perfectly happy living alone. We share the kitchen, and come and go independently. It’s like going back to being a student.”

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JUNE 07: SNP WASPI campaigners wait to meet with SNP Leader John Swinney in Glasgow Southwest constituency on June 07, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaigners are advocating for women, born in the 1950s, who have been affected by State Pension Age changes. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Waspi campaigners in Glasgow in June during the election campaign (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty)

In March a damning report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found the DWP guilty of “maladministration” over the failure to properly notify 1950s-born women. The watchdog recommended payments of between £1,000 and £2,950.

Ms Hince said it was time for Labour to act on the report, after Sir Keir Starmer accused Rishi Sunak’s government of a “shocking” failure to deal with the issue.

She added: “I expect them to act on the ombudsman’s report. It would be scandalous for Labour to ignore what has been recommended.”

Pressed on whether Labour would come up with a compensation plan, Ms Kendall told BBC Breakfast: “This, I’m afraid, is yet another problem that the Conservatives shamefully ran away from.”

The Cabinet minister added: “A serious report has been produced by the ombudsman. It requires serious consideration.

“We’re going through all of the details of that at the moment. We will take action to set out our plans as soon as possible.”

Jane Cowley, Waspi’s campaign director, told i: “Labour are coming close to doing the same thing [running away]. The minister is in danger of falling into the same spot as the Conservatives.”

Ms Cowley, 70, said the Waspi team is “disappointed” that Ms Kendall had not yet responded to a request for a meeting, three weeks on from Labour’s election victory.

“The report has been there since March,” she said. “So the request to have longer to think about it sounds rather thin, I’m afraid. It’s a thin excuse. There is no excuse to kick this down the road, as appears to be happening.”

Susan Bolland, a 68-year-old campaigner with the Waspi group in Cunninghame, said: “It’s very frustrating to be no further forward with the new Government.

“Labour knew they were inheriting this, so they must have a plan to deal with it. We need timeline. We need action. How much longer is this going to go on for?”

A DWP spokesperson said the PHSO had produced a “serious report, requiring serious consideration”.

“We will need time to carefully review and consider the ombudsman’s report. Once this work has been undertaken, we will be in a position to outline our approach.

“We will continue to listen respectfully to the women involved, and ensure we take on board any lessons learnt.”

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