AIBU in thinking the government have made the correct decision not to blanket pay all WASPI women £3k? This goes against the Ombudsman recommendations to pay between £1k-3k to every WASPI women.

[caringcarer]

At the time it was in every newspaper for weeks, in the radio and on the TV news a lot of coverage via the media. Most women of this age agree they knew about pension age changes. At the time it was huge. I fail to understand how any women could not have known unless they lived off grid. No individual letters were sent out to the women who would be affected. The Ombudsman's recommendation was that a blanket payment of between £1k-3k be paid to all WASPI women. Labour have just announced no money will be paid out at all. It would have cost the taxpayer up to £10.5 billion pounds on top of the huge amount of my ney it has cost to review it for several years. It is money that the government just don't have. Assuming lessons have been learned and any future changes will see DWP send out letters to any individuals who it will directly affect. The only worry is that it sets a precedent of ignoring what the Ombudsman's recommendations.

They’re not. Thatcher’s approval rating was 23% at this point of her first administration.

Ask the millions of women over 55 who are mysteriously employed.

Right so you're rubbishing that ladies experience? She tried to get a job but couldn't.

Because, as an adult you should listen to the news, read the newspapers and listen to the Budget in case something affects you.

If you don't then you will miss anouncements like this.

It is called being a responsible adult.

Yes I am. On her own admission she has spent years on a full time effort to claim 10k off the government. She could have earned that in less than a year working at Sainsbury's part time and then enjoyed the rest of her retirement.

You didn't know about it til a few months before you retired? Were you living on the moon til then?

With respect though it was widely publicised in the mid 90s and then regularly since then. Anyone who ever watched the news or read a paper would have been aware

No. That’s why the Ombudsman made a judgment of maladministration. There were many women who didn’t know about the second change.

Is the government trying to alienate older people (fuel allowance, waspi pensions) young people (uni fees, no jobs) small and electric car drivers (road tax) small businesses (NI), families (2 child limit).
Is there a group that hasn't been hit yet

Lots of women were living on the moon for a while apparently. It was widely advertised on earth.

I don't quite understand how people were oblivious. I can remember it being whined about on the news, and by my mum when I was a small child. You'd have to have been living under a rock, taking no responsibility for your own finances to not know.
We haven't got £10.5bn to spend on it. The rest of us will be retiring even older (if at all) so sympathy is limited.

They no money to pay the Waspi's everything is a mess at the moment...

Who are these people who wake up one morning and think "Why, I think I'll retire in a couple of months"? I'm early 50s and have started to think about /do the sums for my retirement even though it won't have for another 12 years at least. If I wasn't already aware that I'm not able to claim a state pension til 67 (it was 65 when I started work in the 80s) I'd have found out with a decade + in hand.

I am a a WASPI. There was plenty of notice given. Those that say there wasn’t, weren’t paying attention. Just started getting my State Pension this year.

Point of order for a pp who said it us 15% of the NHS budget, no where near. NHS budget is knocking on £200bn.

That aside, I am 58, so not a Waspi, but close enough. And yes, I also remember all the information being readily available. It was also obvious that true equality with men was on the cards..... Because why not??

All of my parents generation retired in their mid fifties, let alone waiting until 60 or 65. Lots of them Civil Servants with additional fab pensions too.

So many claiming to be WASPIs who actually aren't in the affected demographic.

Advertised doesn’t cut it. DWP advised those women affected by letter of the 1996 change, it was left to chance with the 2011 change when letters should also have been sent. There was also very little notice for early 1950s women - I got about 18 months notice of the second change and only knew because I’m a newshound.

A lot of people don't read Ts and Cs either, should businesses just stop providing them? It's about providing people with the opportunity.

Take it up with her then

Absolutely the right decision - these women had 22 years to make plans. You’re telling me that there’s a group who had no access to newspapers, tv, radio at all and had no idea? Embarrassing.

I feel the same TBH

If you're born just before / after any cut off date, it's unfortunate but can't be helped. The line has to be drawn somewhere

I am not saying it’s easy, but working until well into their 60’s is what is expected of the current generation of people before they are able to claim Retirement Pension.
She may be disappointed not to have been able to get her pension earlier, but she is not being treated any worse than them.
Universal Credit exists to support people who are genuinely unable to get work if she has insufficient other income.

Only if they happened to be watching or reading it at the right time. That's the fucking point. It's not acceptable to rely on 3rd party media they needed to have written a letter.

Exactly.

The rise in state pension age to 66 was not communicated adequately. On top of a previous rise to 65, this made planning a financial future more than difficult.
And don't forget, these women are of an age when access to pensions was limited as were employment rights and supporting benefits.

Of course it was.
If anyone has totally isolated themselves from any way of getting the news for 30 odd years, then that person not knowing something is really on them.

I think it is the right decision.

No they didn’t. I had 18 months notice of the second change which was more consequential and only happened 13 years ago!