Thank you for contacting me about changes to the State Pension age and the ongoing Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman (PHSO) investigation.

I am aware that the PHSO has concluded the first stage of its investigation into how the DWP communicated changes to the women's State Pension age and is currently reviewing the second stage following a legal challenge. However, the PHSO investigation is a multi-staged process, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on a live Ombudsman investigation. I am

looking forward to the next stages of the investigation but it is important to note that this

is not a review of the entire state pension increase, and that any remedy they might recommend

would be specifically related to the period between 2004 and 2007.

As you are no doubt aware, both the High Court and the Court of Appeal have found that the

DWP acted entirely lawfully and did not discriminate on any grounds in the changes to the state

pension age. Moreover, the ombudsman has stated that they are not able to recommend that the

DWP reimburse pensions that were not received as a result of the increase in the state pension

age, nor that anyone receive their state pension earlier than the law allows.

While I know this is not what you will have wanted to hear, I hope this is of some help in shining

a light on the role and status of the PHSO’s investigation.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.