There are 50,000 women in our county alone waiting to find out just how much compensation they are owed by the government, latest data has shown.

March was home to a moment hailed as a historic victory for the WASPI movement when a long-awaited report showed that women affected by increases made to retirement ages are in fact entitled to compensation.

The report, from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), followed a 67-month investigation into the injustice suffered by women born in the 1950s.

It found that these women experienced a significant and/or lasting impact which is level four on the scale, which is between £1,000 and £2,950.

The report also said that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) should apologise to those impacted.

Women born between 1950 and 1960 were affected when the government raised the state pension age for women born on or after April 6, 1950, from 60 to 65, and then to 66, bringing it in line with men.

However, the DWP did not inform women of this change.

They were notified in April 2009, when they could have been contacted in December 2006.

It has long been the argument of WASPI, the Women Against State Pension Inequality, that this delay meant that women were denied information which would have allowed them to effectively plan for the future.

Now, Suffolk WASPI co-ordinator Karen Sheldon said that the group will not give in until justice has been served.

"We want fair and fast compensation," she said. 

East Anglian Daily Times: WASPI women are often likened to the Suffragettes.WASPI women are often likened to the Suffragettes. (Image: Newsquest)

East Anglian Daily Times: Karen Sheldon, left, said that WASPI women and their families will be closely watching political candidates in the run up to the next election. Pictured with fellow Suffolk WASPI coordinator, Judi Moss.Karen Sheldon, left, said that WASPI women and their families will be closely watching political candidates in the run up to the next election. Pictured with fellow Suffolk WASPI coordinator, Judi Moss. (Image: Karen Sheldon)

Often likened to modern day Suffragettes, they have been campaigning for justice – and said that last month, they felt that their battle had been won.

Now, data released by the House of Commons library can be used to estimate how many women affected by the changes live in each constituency - and so would be entitled to compensation, broken down by region.

In Ipswich, there are 5,430 women born in the 1950s. In Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, there are 5,970. In South Suffolk, there are 6,260. In central Suffolk and north Ipswich, 5,690. In Suffolk Coastal, 7,310. In West Suffolk, 6,110. In Lowestoft, 6,180, and in Waveney Valley, 7,050.

In total this is 50,000 women.

Mrs Sheldon said that, with eight months at the most until the next general election, WASPI women and their families will be watching all political candidates carefully.  

Senior MPs have rallied behind WASPI, with Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions Spokesperson, leading the calls in a letter to Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, and Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride.

Meanwhile, more than 225,000 people have signed a change.org open letter to Penny Mordaunt, echoing calls for a Parliamentary debate and vote in Government time.

The wait to find out how much compensation will be paid continues.