A LONG-AWAITED report on “catastrophic changes” to the state pension age which left 10,000 Southend women poorer will be published today.

“WASPI women”, born between April 1950 and April 1960, are fighting for “fast and fair” compensation, urging the government to repay some of the money lost and to recompense them for the difficulties they faced.

The South East Essex branch of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) is now preparing to welcome a report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which could see them compensated.

In 1995, the State Pension Act introduced plans to increase women’s state pension age from 60 to 65. However, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) failed to inform them until 15 years later, forcing 3.8 million women into financial hardship.

Since the WASPI campaign began eight years ago, 270,000 women have died without compensation. One dies every 13 minutes.

It is hoped the publication of the ombudsman’s report will highlight what WASPI campaigners have described as “catastrophic failings” by the DWP, and may recommend the government compensates those affected.

The ombudsman published the first part of its report in 2021, when it criticised the government for being too slow in telling women how they would be affected by the rise in state pension age.