CAMPAIGNERS today branded a government decision not to compensate women affected by the way changes to the state pension age were communicated “bizarre and totally unjustified.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the government does not believe paying a flat rate to 1950s-born women who lost out on the support at a cost of up to £10.5 billion would be a fair or proportionate use of taxpayers’ money.

In a statement, she said that “most women knew the state pension age was increasing and that letters aren’t as significant as the [Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman investigation] says, as well as other reasons, have informed our conclusion that there should be no scheme of financial compensation…”