Over 333,000 women in Scotland are affected by the UK Government’s refusal to compensate for pension age changes, sparking widespread outrage.
Edinburgh: The situation for Waspi women in Scotland is pretty dire. Official figures show that over 333,000 women are feeling the pinch due to the UK Government’s refusal to offer compensation for changes to the state pension.
All political parties in Scotland agree that some form of compensation is necessary. The decision to raise the pension age for women to match men’s was made back in 1995 and sped up in the 2010s. Many women claim they had no idea their pensions would be affected.
The Labour Government insists that the estimated £10 billion cost for compensation is just too much. But the Scottish Lib Dems are calling this figure “shocking” and are determined to fight for these women.
As a debate looms in Holyrood, the Scottish Government is also pushing for compensation. It’s estimated that around 3.6 million women across the UK have been impacted by this change.
There was a significant delay in notifying these women about the changes, which has led to financial struggles for many. Campaigners from the Waspi group argue that this has forced women to rethink their retirement plans.
A report last year suggested that the Government should compensate these women due to the delay in communication. However, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has turned down that recommendation, citing budget constraints.
Beatrice Wishart, a Shetland MSP, expressed that these figures show a betrayal by the UK Government. She emphasized that the government has ignored the Ombudsman’s recommendations, which is simply disgraceful.
She added that the Liberal Democrats have been advocating for fair compensation for Waspi women and that the UK Government needs to change its stance on this issue.
The Scottish Government is urging the UK to take responsibility and compensate these women, highlighting the financial hardships they’ve faced. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville stressed the importance of addressing this issue promptly.
