WOMEN who lost tens of thousands of pounds in pensions when their state pension age was raised in the interests of “equality” will demonstrate outside the Royal Courts of Justice today as they launch legal action in their campaign for compensation.

Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) is fighting on behalf of 3.8 million women who were affected by the raising of women’s state pension age initially from 60 to 65.

Their campaign takes place against the background of Labour’s continuing attacks on pensioners, including the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Allowance for most pensioners and refusal to raise the threshold at which pensioners pay income tax.

The process of raising the state pension age for women from 60 to 65 to bring it in line with men began with the 1995 Conservative government’s State Pension Act proposing a gradual increase.

The state pension age for women and men is now 66.

Waspi, which was founded in 2015, cannot challenge the legislation that raised women’s state pension age but is contesting the way women affected were informed and is calling for compensation.

A report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman suggested compensation ranging between £1,000 and £2,950 could be appropriate for each of those affected, even though some of the women lost up to £60,000 in state pension payments.

The government has rejected even the derisory compensation proposed by the ombudsman.

Waspi is now seeking a judicial review to force the government to reconsider its decision.

Chairwoman Angela Madden said: “We do not want to be taking legal action, but we have been forced to, due to the government’s total denial of justice.

“The government has an opportunity now to get around the table and engage meaningfully with us. If they don’t, they will have to continue to defend the indefensible, but this time in front of senior judges.”

National Pensioners Convention general secretary Jan Shortt said: “This is just one example of how pensioners are being treated by this government.

“While they will happily state that they will protect us, everything happening right now is the opposite.

“The loss of the winter fuel allowance for the majority of pensioners in the climate of energy increases and freezing weather is forcing older people to live in cold homes.

“This has an impact on their health and is overwhelming the NHS to the extent that we are seeing corridor care being accepted at the norm.”

Ms Shortt criticised Chancellor Rachel Revees for believing she has been “generous” with the increase in the triple lock — at 4.1 per cent — adding: “Since our last increase in April 2024, energy, food and other household bills have increased.

“By the time we receive our increase in April this year, the triple lock will not be effective — in fact it will be in deficit.

“However, with the continued freeze on the income tax threshold, pensioners are now paying tax for the very first time.”

Ms Shortt said that all bar the poorest pensioners and lowest-paid workers will be paying tax and called for the creation of an independent commission for older people and ageing in England to “ensure that older people’s voices and contributions to policy can be heard and recognised.” 

A government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on live litigation.”