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Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) action plan: State Pension age communications and complaints handling

Written ministerial statementMade by Torsten BellParliamentary Secretary, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Pensions)Department for Work and PensionsHCWS148

In January 2026, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced the Government’s new response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report into the way changes to the State Pension age were communicated to women born in the 1950s. This included a commitment to deliver an action plan to learn lessons from the Ombudsman’s investigation. Today, this action plan has been published on gov.uk.

I will also place a copy of the action plan in the Libraries of the House

The action plan sets out key steps for State Pension age communications and complaints handling, recognising the importance of building a continuous learning approach.

I am grateful to the Ombudsman who has provided support to develop the action plan. As we have set out in the plan, we will work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders on future State Pension age communications.

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