A prominent judge from the High Court has officially announced that the legal challenge brought forth by the Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign (WASPI) will commence in the upcoming weeks. The initiation of the legal proceedings coincides with the release of new research shedding light on the repercussions of adjustments to the State Pension age for women throughout the United Kingdom.
Scheduled to kick off on December 9, 2025, the two-day confrontation between campaigners and senior officials from the UK Government will unfold. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be represented before the High Court to uphold the government’s stance in response to the final report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) concerning changes to the State Pension age, published in March 2024.
Approximately 3.5 million women born in the 1950s in the UK are estimated to have been deprived of State Pension payments due to successive administrations raising the official retirement age. While ministers admitted fault in December 2024 following the pivotal report, they opted against providing compensation to the affected women.
Supported by numerous Members of Parliament and prominent figures from trade unions, WASPI activists argue that the government’s reaction to the report is flawed and urge ministers to reconsider their stance. The Daily Record has covered these developments.
In the event of a favorable outcome, the High Court could mandate government officials to review the PHSO report. However, it is important to note that the court does not possess the authority to directly compel the DWP to compensate WASPI women. WASPI has revealed that UK Government lawyers are anticipated to submit substantial amounts of supporting documentation in defense of their position.
The announcement of WASPI’s forthcoming court appearance comes after a survey involving over 5,000 WASPI women revealed that nearly 72% of them harbor concerns about their financial circumstances. As MPs gear up to reconvene at Westminster, campaigners are resolute in their pursuit of justice.
Angela Madden, Chair of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), emphasized, “With our court date drawing near, we are more resolute than ever in our quest to secure the just compensation that WASPI women are entitled to. Supported by a multitude of MPs from various political parties, numerous trade unions, and influential bodies, alongside overwhelming public support, we call on ministers to engage with WASPI women promptly or face the repercussions of defending an indefensible position in court very soon.”
