The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is under fire for allegedly sidelining a crucial action plan designed to address the long-running WASPI State Pension age scandal. Senior officials now face a parliamentary grilling over the delays.
Ombudsman's stern warning over 'deprioritised' reforms
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has issued a formal warning, accusing the DWP of neglecting essential reforms. Ombudsman Paula Sussex expressed serious frustration that promised improvements to how the department communicates State Pension changes have been stalled.
Ms Sussex revealed that Sir Peter Schofield, the DWP's Permanent Secretary, informed her office that work on a vital remedial plan has been paused indefinitely. She suggested this indicates the department is "deprioritising" the need for corrective measures for the affected women, calling it a significant disservice to complainants.
MPs demand answers and accountability
The Work and Pensions Committee will question DWP officials on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Committee Chair Debbie Abrahams MP has received a detailed letter from the Ombudsman outlining the department's failings, which highlights a breakdown in trust.
The hearing will focus on the lack of accountability for past administrative errors that left thousands of women born in the 1950s in financial hardship. MPs are expected to demand:
- A clear explanation for the indefinite pause.
- A concrete timeline for when the remedial work will resume.
- Details on why necessary structural changes have not been implemented.
Sir Peter Schofield is set to testify as a key witness during this evidence session.
Broken trust and the path forward
The core issue centres on the government's handling of changes to the State Pension age for women, which the PHSO has previously ruled was maladministration. The stalled action plan was meant to ensure lessons were learned and processes improved.
With the plan now in limbo, the Ombudsman's concerns point to a wider failure to address the scandal's root causes. The upcoming parliamentary session represents a critical moment for thousands of WASPI women still awaiting justice and for restoring confidence in the DWP's complaint handling procedures.
