Response to PHSO report on communication of changes to women바카라 사이트檚 State Pension age
Following careful consideration of the PHSO바카라 사이트檚 report into how changes to the State Pension Age were communicated, the 바카라 사이트 has accepted the Ombudsman바카라 사이트檚 finding of maladministration and has apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women.
- Following careful consideration of the PHSO바카라 사이트檚 report into how changes to the State Pension Age were communicated, the 바카라 사이트 has accepted the Ombudsman바카라 사이트檚 finding of maladministration and has apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women.
- Evidence showed only one in four people remember receiving and reading letters that they weren바카라 사이트檛 expecting and that the great majority of 1950s-born women did know that the State Pension age was changing. Earlier letters wouldn바카라 사이트檛 have affected this.
- For these and other reasons the government cannot justify paying compensation.聽
Following careful consideration of the PHSO바카라 사이트檚 report into how changes to the State Pension Age were communicated, the 바카라 사이트 has accepted the Ombudsman바카라 사이트檚 finding of maladministration and has apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women.聽
Evidence showed only one in four people remember receiving and reading letters that they weren바카라 사이트檛 expecting and that the great majority of 1950s-born women did know that State Pension age was changing. Earlier letters wouldn바카라 사이트檛 have affected this. For these and other reasons we cannot justify paying compensation.聽
In 2018, the PHSO launched an investigation to examine whether 1950s-born women suffered injustice because of maladministration in the DWP바카라 사이트檚 communication of State Pension Age changes.聽
The Ombudsman did not investigate the change in the State Pension age itself 바카라 사이트� a policy change from 1995 which was agreed by Parliament and considered lawful by the courts 바카라 사이트� just how the change was communicated.
The Ombudsman found:
- DWP provided adequate and accurate information between 1995 and 2004;
- DWP decision-making between 2005 and 2007 led to a 28-month delay in starting to send letters to 1950s-born women about State Pension age changes and that;
- These delays were maladministration and the Ombudsman found they led to injustice but did not cause direct financial loss.
The Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, on behalf of the 바카라 사이트, has accepted the Ombudsman바카라 사이트檚 finding of maladministration for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women and has apologised. The Secretary of State also committed to the department learning lessons from this complex case.
The Ombudsman concluded sending letters earlier would have affected what women knew about the changes to the State Pension age but these delays did not result in direct financial loss.聽
However, there is evidence on the ineffectiveness of unsolicited letters that the Ombudsman did not take properly into account. Research showed that only one in four people remember receiving and reading letters that they weren바카라 사이트檛 expecting.聽
The government cannot therefore accept that sending letters earlier would have had a significant impact on whether women knew their State Pension age was rising or increased their opportunities to make informed decisions.聽
The Ombudsman also acknowledged that, throughout these years, DWP did make considerable efforts through its extensive communications campaigns 바카라 사이트� from helplines and leaflets to TV adverts and women바카라 사이트檚 magazines 바카라 사이트� to raise awareness about the state pension age changes. The letters were just one part of this extensive communications campaign.聽
Published research, which is referenced by the Ombudsman in their report, also shows that 73% of women aged 45-54 said that they were aware of State Pension age increases in 2004. By 2006, 90% of 1950s-born women knew about State Pension age changes.聽
Therefore, the 바카라 사이트 does not agree with the Ombudsman바카라 사이트檚 approach to injustice and remedy, which has informed the conclusion that there should be no financial compensation to 1950s-born women.
A blanket compensation scheme, which could cost taxpayers up to 拢10.5 billion, cannot be justified when evidence shows 90% of women knew about State Pension age changes and letters would not have made a significant difference for those who were not aware.聽
It would also be impossible to deliver a tailored compensation scheme taking into account individual circumstances that is fair, value for money and feasible. The Ombudsman바카라 사이트檚 report itself acknowledges the cost and administrative burden of assessing the individual circumstances of 3.5 million women born in the 1950s.
Such a scheme would also take thousands of staff many years and have a significant detrimental impact on DWP바카라 사이트檚 core business of helping people back into work, supporting the poorest and most in-need households and supporting pensioners.
Even if there were a scheme where women were invited to self-certify that they weren바카라 사이트檛 aware of changes to their State Pension age, and that they have suffered injustice as a result - it would be impossible to verify the information provided.聽
This has been a difficult decision and not one the government has taken lightly. The 바카라 사이트 is continuing to support pensioners with millions set to receive up to a 拢1,900 increase to their State Pension by the end of this parliament through our commitment to the Triple Lock.
Speaking to the House, the Secretary of State Liz Kendall said:
The government has not taken this decision lightly, but we believe it is the right course of action바카라 사이트�. because
the great majority of the women knew the State Pension age was increasing
sending letters earlier wouldn바카라 사이트檛 have made a difference for most
and the proposed compensation scheme isn바카라 사이트檛 fair, or value for taxpayers바카라 사이트� money.
I know there are women born in the 1950s who want and deserve a better life.
They바카라 사이트檝e worked hard 바카라 사이트� in paid jobs and bringing up their families. Many are struggling financially 바카라 사이트� with the cost of living, and fewer savings to fall back on.
And they worry about their health, and how their children and grandchildren will get on.
To those women I say, this 바카라 사이트 will protect the pensions triple lock so that your state pension will increase by up to 拢1,900 by the end of this Parliament.
This government will drive down waiting lists, so you get the treatment you need, with an extra 拢22 billion of funding for the NHS this year and next.
And this government will deliver the jobs, homes and opportunities your families need to build a better life.
I know that 바카라 사이트� on this specific decision 바카라 사이트� many 1950s born women will be disappointed.
But we believe it is the right decision, and the fair decision.
Additional information on background to SPa changes
- In 1991, the 바카라 사이트 consulted on options to equalise the State Pension age for men and women. Following the consultation, Parliament legislated for equalisation at age 65 in the Pensions Act 1995. The subsequent Pensions Acts 2007 and 2011 raised both men바카라 사이트檚 and women바카라 사이트檚 State Pension age. The increase in women바카라 사이트檚 State Pension age and accelerated the timetables for the increased. The increase in women바카라 사이트檚 State Pension age was accelerated to reach 65 by November 2018 and would rise to 66 in October 2020.
Chronology of State Pension age communications activities 1991-2013 바카라 사이트� highlights
1991
Green paper: 바카라 사이트淥ptions for Equality in State Pension age바카라 사이트� Public consultation on the policy rationale聽which received 4000 responses
1993
White paper: 바카라 사이트淓quality in State Pension age바카라 사이트� - Set out the 바카라 사이트바카라 사이트檚 intention to equalise men and women바카라 사이트檚 State Pension age at 65. Leaflet (EPQ1):聽바카라 사이트淓quality in State Pension age 바카라 사이트� A summary of the 바카라 사이트 proposals바카라 사이트�. - Pre-empted 1995 Act and informed individuals about the changes to State Pension age Poster for Social Security Offices - Included a telephone number to request EPQ1
1995
DSS Pension order-line set up Leaflet (EQPLA):聽 바카라 사이트淓quality in State Pension age 바카라 사이트� A summary of the changes바카라 사이트�. - Informed individuals about the State Pension age changes, the specific impact on women, and included a table showing date of birth and proposed new SPa.聽Republished in 1996.
State Pension Forecast - Requested by post and telephone (and recently online).
1996
Booklet (EQP201):聽바카라 사이트淐hanges to your future 바카라 사이트� Will the Pensions Act affect your State Pension?바카라 사이트澛� - Provided an overview of the Pensions Act 1995 and its implications. |
1997
Pension Power pilot campaign - Trade Union Congress led campaign and helpline aimed at women
1997
Pensions Education Working Group (1997-2000) - Stakeholders included Trade Union Congress, Natwest, Equal Opportunities Commission. - Produced a report called 바카라 사이트楪etting to know about Pensions바카라 사이트� which recommended that the Department 바카라 사이트渟hould develop a major pensions educations and awareness programme.바카라 사이트�
1998
Multi-channel Pensions Education Campaign - Encouraged ownership of pensions stating 바카라 사이트榙on바카라 사이트檛 leave it to chance바카라 사이트�. - Approach included press, adverts, leaflets about SPa changes directed at women, a website (www.gogetpensions.gov.uk) and direct mailings to 75,000 individuals. DWP received 1.5 million requests for information leaflets (including from 8000 organisations)
1999
Pension Power for You campaign - Trade Union Congress led helpline promoted through radio and press. - Received 6500 calls in the first 5 days, of which 56% were about State Pension.
2000
1998 Multi-channel Pensions Education Campaign (extended) - Approach included press, TV, women바카라 사이트檚 magazines
2001
New multi-channel Pensions Education Campaign - Encouraged retirement planning. - A creative approach worth 拢6.5m including leaflets, TV advertisements, cinema and supported by stakeholders. - 1 million website visits, 2 million guides were issued, and 430,000 calls to the helpline. Leaflet (PM2) - Updated to include reference to SPa. Website - Included SPa checker.
2003
Automatic Pensions Forecasts - Including聽a聽booklet notifying women about increases to SPa, guide to State Pension and planning for retirement. - Approximately 17.8 million sent to individuals between 2003 and 2006.
2004
Range of Pension Service booklets updated to include references to SPa changes. Booklets were available through telephone request, and from the Pension바카라 사이트檚 website.
2006
Public consultation - National Pensions debate
2008
Marketing activity aimed at women -Included TV adverts
2009 to 2011
Direct mailing - Letters to all individuals affected by the Pensions Act 1995 using postal address held on DWP바카라 사이트檚 customer information system. - 1.2 million letters sent to women.
2012 and 2013
Direct mailing - Letters to all individuals affected by the Pensions Act 2011. - 5 million letters and information leaflets.