WASPI ­— Women Against State Pension Inequality ­— has launched a new campaign, and is calling on the Government to take urgent action.

The group has several active members on the Island.

To help WASPI women who have been badly affected by the outbreak of Covid-19, and who are experiencing greater financial hardship as a result, the organisation is calling on the Government to make two urgent changes.

The first is to give early access to Pension Credit for WASPI women who are otherwise eligible.

This group, comprising some of the poorest WASPI women living in the UK, is currently falling through the gaps as their income is low, but they cannot access other support like Universal Credit.

The second is early access to the State Pension for WASPI women due to reach State Pension age this financial year, which would mean the Government would not have to support these women through other measures like furlough payments or benefits.

Announcing the call to action, WASPI campaign director, Chrissie Lord said: “Every day, we hear heartbreaking stories from our members about how the current situation is affecting them.

"We’re increasingly concerned about the disproportionate impact the outbreak is having on 1950s born women.

"Those who are hardest hit have been unable to retire as planned and are now unable to work.

"WASPI women have fallen through the cracks too many times before.

"It is time for the Government to act to ensure that WASPI women who are struggling to make ends meet are protected and supported.”

The campaign has more than 130,000 supporters and represents almost 3.8 million women born in the 1950s who are suffering because they were not told by the Government that their State Pension age would be increasing.

Further information about WASPI may be found at www.waspi.co.uk