WASPI women are refusing to take no for an answer in the state pension row with the British government.
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The protestors – part of Women Against Station Pension Inequality – are funding a legal challenge against the government’s decision to make tens of thousands of women wait longer to collect their retirement cash.
Prior to the new measures, women collected their state pensions at 60 years old compared to men, who had to wait until they were 65 – but now women born in the early 1950s must wait until they are 67.
The rules are set to phase in over several years, with pension ages for men and women equalising by 2020.
No U-turn says pensions minister
Despite pressure from lobbying, pensions minister Richard Harrington has restated that women born in the 1950s will not be paid compensation due to state pension rule changes.
He also announced that no rule changes are planned and WASPI protests will not lead to any review or change of rules.
The disappointing news has triggered another wave of protests from women in their 60s who claim the decision is unfair and discriminates against women.
WASPI also argues that the rules were badly explained at changed too near their expected retirement ages for thousands of women who had already planned their finances only to find state pension payments were delayed.
£75,000 raised for legal fees
In six days, the fund to pay WASPI legal costs for taking their case to the High Court in London has tipped £75,000.
Pat Tarttelin, who is on the WASPI management team, said: “Raising £75,000 in just under a week has been a fantastic achievement. We never imagined people would step up so quickly to support our cause. It’s a clear signal that the time has come for the government to recognise this injustice and realise WASPI means business.”
The WASPI case impacts on expat women receiving the British state pension, as their state pension age is tied to the UK rather than the place where they live.
Besides the legal fight, WASPI has also delivered a petition with 270,000 signatures to Downing Street and is whipping up local protests around Britain, including lobbying MPs for their support.
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