West Lothian women who have been “short changed” over their pensions are continuing their fight for justice.
Members of the WASPI West Lothian (Women Against State Pension Injustice) have met with MP Hannah Bardell to voice their concerns over their unfair treatment.
They are fighting against the 1995 Conservative Government’s State Pension Act included plans to increase women’s state pension age from 60 to 65 so that it was the same as men’s.
WASPI agrees with equalisation, but does not agree with the unfair way the changes were implemented
Because of the way the increases were brought in, women born in the 1950s have been hit particularly hard.
Significant changes to the age they receive their state pension were imposed with a lack of appropriate notification, with little or no notice and much faster than they were promised - with some being hit by more than one increase.
Hannah Bardell said: “I was delighted to meet again with the local West Lothian WASPI group to listen to their concerns.
“The Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is investigating six sample complaints and its first stage report found that maladministration had taken place in 2005 and 2006.
“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.”
She continued: “A state pension isn’t a privilege, it’s a right for these hardworking women.
“These women are being robbed of their pensions and we should all demand justice for them. I’d encourage anyone who has been affected directly or knows someone who has to join the WASPI West Lothian group.
“My party and I will continue to lead the way in supporting the WASPI campaign in their efforts to secure fairness for the women affected in their fight for pension justice.”
A spokesperson for Waspi West Lothian said: “We in the WASPI West Lothian group appreciate Hannah taking the time to listen to our concerns about the way 1950s women have been victims of maladministration when we weren’t given proper notice that our pension age had changed.
“We know we can rely on her support when the Ombudsman publishes his final report later this year.”
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