WOMEN’S pensions campaigners in Ceredigion have welcomed a report by a group of MPs from all parties which recommends that 1950s women need to be given ‘fast and proper’ compensation at the top level over pension changes in the 1990s.

The report, published last week by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for Women, has been sent to the Ombudsman.

The ombudsman is investigating alleged maladministration that took place when 1950s women were not given adequate notice that their State Pension Age had changed.

The 1995 Conservative Government’s State Pension Act included plans to increase women’s state pension age from 60 to 65 so that it was the same as men’s.

WASPI said it agrees with equalisation, but does not agree with the unfair way the changes were implemented.

The group said that letters were sent out to women born on or after 6 April 1951 to 5 April 1953, nearly 14 years after the 1995 Pensions Act, and a “large percentage of these women only received a letter advising them of significant increases to their State Pension Age when they were 59 - one year before their expected retirement age.

“We are delighted that the MPs’ report has come out so strongly in favour of the maximum compensation,” Pamela Judge from Ceredigion Women Against State Pension Injustice (WASPI) said.

“They diligently sifted through mountains of evidence about the impact that the lack of notice had on women.

“They listened carefully as we gave our evidence and really seemed to understand our experience.”

The MPs concluded that not only has the maladministration impacted on women financially, but has also caused extraordinary emotional, physical and psychological distress, forcing women to endure a reduced quality of life.

The impact was “as devastating as it is widespread,” the report said.

The women have been consistently backed in their efforts by Ceredigion Mp Ben Lake.

He said: “Despite these MPs’ different backgrounds and political perspectives they are absolutely united in calling for compensation at the highest level.

“As the report says ‘These women … have faced horrific injustice and have been neglected time and time again.’

“It’s now time for the UK government to face up to its responsibilities and accept that 1950s women deserve fair and fast compensation.”

Over 5,000 1950s women in Ceredigion are now “waiting impatiently for the Ombudsman to complete his report and recommend compensation”, the WASPI group said.