Julie Hince, who was forced to sell half her home and let a friend move in after the state pension age went up without her knowledge, called on Keir Starmer to finally act
A former teacher who had to sell half her home after being caught out by the state pension scandal has voiced her anger at Government inaction.
Julie Hince told The Mirror it is “farcical” that the Government hasn’t yet delivered compensation to millions of WASPI women. The 65-year-old from Devon retired aged 58, believing her savings would see her through to 60, when she could claim her state pension.
But she was stunned to learn from a friend that it had gone up to 66, having not had a letter or any communication from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Facing the prospect of losing her home, she agreed to sell half to a friend, who has moved in.
“My life has changed completely because I’m now virtually living with a lodger,” she said. “I needed to raise money to be able to cope.”
In March a Parliamentary Ombudsman called on MPs to deliver a swift compensation scheme. Julie said: “Everybody was very patient waiting for this decision.
“And then when the decision comes, no action follows. I feel very frustrated. My lifestyle has changed dramatically, and I’ve to sell half of my house. I think that it’s absolutely imperative that they put this right.”
And she continued: “What is the point of having an ombudsman, somebody appointed to decide these things, if we don’t act on it when they do? It becomes a total farce.
“And it’s very sad to think that so many people are dying without the justice that’s been found to be deserved.”
It comes as campaigners said more than 300,000 WASPI women have died since the fight for compensation launched. Keir Starmer has been urged to finally settle the “desperately unfair situation” after the grim milestone was announced. Angela Madden, who heads the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign, told The Mirror that around 25,000 have died since Labour came to power.
Her own sister Mel passed away aged 71 earlier this year without seeing justice. She said: “There’s another 299,999 women who have lost people as well, families have lost sisters, mothers, grandmothers.
“And it really brings to light that we’re not all living longer all the time.” Mrs Madden said Mel, who was less than a year older than her, was “actively involved” in the WASPI campaign and wanted to see the injustice put right.
In a message to the PM, Mrs Madden said: “I think around 25,000 women have died since they came into office. Every day that goes by means another 100 souls lost before they see justice.
“We are a historic injustice that needs to be resolved.”