Livingston MP Hannah Bardell has confirmed her support for justice for the 6,400 West Lothian women fighting for compensation over their pensions.
The politician is lending her support to the 1950s-born women in her constituency by signing the Women Against State Pension Injustice (WASPI) Campaign pledge.
It is almost a year since the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman ruled that the Department for Work and Pensions was guilty of maladministration in failing to give proper notice to 3.8 million women born in the 1950s whose State Pension Age was subjected to a series of changes.
Since then, the Ombudsman has been investigating whether this maladministration resulted in injustice - and if so, how the women involved should be compensated.
Carla O’Hara, Co-ordinator of WASPI West Lothian group, said: “Hannah Bardell has been a consistent WASPI supporter. We are delighted that she has signed the pledge to highlight
our campaign for fair and fast compensation.
“The lack of notice had disastrous results. Women found that their plans for retirement at 60 were suddenly overturned without warning. Some had to sell or re-mortgage their homes, others had to continue working despite ill health, and others had to abandon commitments they had made to their families to provide care for grandchildren or elderly
relatives. All were deprived without proper notice of the pension which they had expected to receive at 60.
“We are asking for justice in the form of fair and fast compensation before more 1950s women die - and we are not going away!”
Hannah Bardell MP said: “This issue has run on for far too long; it’s time for the UK Government who have
short-changed WASPI women and have failed time and time again to remedy the injustices they have suffered.
“A state pension isn’t a privilege, it’s a right for these hardworking women. I’d encourage anyone who has been affected directly or knows someone who has, to
join the WASPI West Lothian group.
“I will continue to stand with women born in the 1950s in their fight for pension justice.”
To contact WASPI West Lothian group email waspiwestlothian@gmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/194802271650122
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