AQW 8887/22-27

Mr Tom Buchanan
Democratic Unionist Party
West Tyrone

Tabled Date: 14/03/2024
Answered On Date: 29/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) the number of women in Northern Ireland born in the 1950s affected by the increase in the State Pension age; (ii) whether his Department has had any communication with the Department of Works and Pensions in relation to compensation for these women; and (iii) whether his Department has considered any proposals to compensate these women for the financial loss they have sustained.

Answer:

The number of women in Northern Ireland born in the 1950s affected by the changes in State pension age is estimated to be 100,700.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report into how changes to women’s State pension age were communicated by DWP was published on 21 March 2024. I await the Westminster Government’s response to that report.

In the meantime, my officials will continue to engage with the Department for Work and Pensions on this matter.