The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) investigated the way State Pension age changes were communicated to women born in the 1950s and whether within a specific time period there was maladministration and injustice and if so, whether it warrants compensation. They did not examine the “financial, emotional and personal hardship experienced by 1950s women caused by pension changes” that the petition focuses on and which relate to the decision, first taken by Parliament in 1995, to equalise the State Pension age for men and women nor that to accelerate the increases in 2011 taken by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition.

The PHSO’s findings relate narrowly to a delay in sending letters over a relatively short period. The Ombudsman found that the Department’s communications met expected standards between 1995 and 2004. But that between 2005 and 2007 there was a 28 month delay in sending personalised letters to women affected and that this was maladministration.

On 29 January the Secretary of State announced the Government’s new decision on the Ombudsman’s investigation. He accepted that individual letters about changes to the State Pension age could have been sent earlier. He apologised for that maladministration in the House of Commons and in the document explaining his decision which has been published.

The Secretary of State recognised the importance that decisions on the State Pension age carry and the impact they have on people’s lives the need for government to weigh carefully any future changes. The Department is developing an Action Plan for the future.

The Secretary of State has set out the Government’s position in detail to Parliament, which can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-parliamentary-and-health-service-ombudsmans-investigation-into-womens-state-pension-age-communications-and-associated-issues.

There are legitimate and sincerely held views about whether it was wise to increase the State Pension age. In particular, whether the decision taken to accelerate equalisation and the rise to the age of 66 was the right thing to do or not. But this is not the issue the Ombudsman or the Government has been considering. Changes to State Pension age to equalise it to 65 and increase it to 66, 67 and 68 were agreed by Parliament and have been tested in the Courts.
In relation to the PHSO’s investigation, the Government took account of the views of 1950s women and people representing them, including Members of Parliament.

In the decision-making process, the Government considered the relevant evidence, including the PHSO's comprehensive report which itself drew on extensive testimony from affected women. The views and experiences of 1950s women were therefore part of the evidence base considered.

We are determined to ensure that all pensioners on lower incomes have a better life in retirement. The Government are now ensuring that more pensioners get that extra income with the biggest ever campaign to increase take-up of Pension Credit, which saw tens of thousands more Pension Credit awards in the year up to November than the previous 12 months.

In addition, our commitment to the Triple Lock for the entirety of this Parliament means that pensioners will see their state pension rise by up to £575 this year, with incomes up to £2,100 a year higher by the end of the Parliament. Indeed, overall spending on the State Pension is set to be more than £30 billion higher a year by the end of this Parliament than in 2024-25.

We are also putting record investment into the NHS, meaning that thousands more pensioners are getting the operations and treatment that they need, rather than being left in pain on waiting lists.

Department for Work and Pensions