Women from Romsey, Winchester and Southampton are calling for the government to urgently pay compensation to women affected by the change in retirement age.

The group known as WASPI, (Women Against State Pension Inequality) are fighting the cause after the Department for Work and Pensions failed to carry out any surveys to improve service design and delivery for those effected by the changes to pension age despite admitting they could have done more.

WASPI, which represents many of the 3.8 million women affected says it has been repeatedly dismissed by successive governments who claim that women were given ample warning, but today’s findings published by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, confirms this was not true.

The report finds that the DWP did not explore writing to women until it reviewed research which it commissioned itself, on awareness levels amongst women impacted.

Leaflets and pension statements which were distributed contained inaccurate or unclear information. WASPI say, only in 2009, 14 years after the changes, did the DWP decide it was necessary to raise awareness of the matter.

The impacts have left many women with little to no time to prepare which along with the Covid-19 pandemic, has left many women without employment.

WASPI says the government urgently needs to compensate all women affected rather than making them wait until the ombudsman completes further investigations.

Co-Ordinator of Solent WASPI group, Shelagh Simmons said: “Today’s provisional findings reinforce what we, unfortunately knew all along; that the DWP failed to adequately inform 3.8 million, 1950s born women that their State Pension age would be increasing.

“We have been tirelessly campaigning on this issue since 2015 and have been repeatedly ignored and dismissed by the Government.

“The Government can no longer cover up its failings. It’s time, once and for all, to resolve this issue.”