An ongoing wait ten months on from WASPI members winning their legal challenge to secure compensation for thousands of women means time is running out for justice to be served, say Suffolk campaigners.

An ombudsman is currently examining the government’s failings to notify women born in the 1950s about changes made to their state pensions.

Women were not informed that the age they could withdraw their state pensions was increasing from 60 to 65 and then 66 (making the age equal to that of men) until April 2009 – more than two years after the fact.

East Anglian Daily Times: WASPI women protesting their case in London. Image: NewsquestWASPI women protesting their case in London. Image: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

This meant that women were not able to effectively plan for the future, having banked on receiving their state pensions at 60.

The first stage of the inquiry acknowledged the government’s failure in communication. However, the second stage – which has now been redacted – tried to claim that this failure “did not lead to all the injustices claimed”.

WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) swiftly mounted a legal challenge, and in April they emerged victorious.

Given that WASPI estimates that a woman who has been affected dies every 13 minutes, this equates to more than 34,000 women who have died before they can see justice served.

Karen Sheldon is one of the coordinators of the Suffolk branch of WASPI.

She explained that the second stage of the report has been written and will be released in conjunction with the third stage.

She said that the ombudsman’s findings were sent to WASPI’s lawyers, who were given until late January to respond with their thoughts and recommendations.

East Anglian Daily Times: Suffolk WASPI coordinators Karen Sheldon, left, and Judi Moss, right. Image: Karen SheldonSuffolk WASPI coordinators Karen Sheldon, left, and Judi Moss, right. Image: Karen Sheldon (Image: Karen Sheldon)

Mrs Sheldon said that they are unable to share the content of the report until the final stages have been published, and that WASPI has been given no indication as to how long this might take.

However, she stressed that the longer the wait goes on, the fewer women will be alive to see justice.

“It is callous of the government to shrug their shoulders and say it was done in the name of equality,” she said. “We’ve never minded about equality – it’s just the lack of notice.”