Women born in the 1950s are preparing to join a national Budget Day protest in Westminster.

The WASPI women (Women Against State Pension Inequality) plan to make their voices heard in Parliament Square during the Chancellor's Budget today.

They will be protesting against how the increases to their state pension age were communicated.

Many of these women were given just 18 months' notice of a six-year delay to their state pension, which campaigners say plunged tens of thousands into poverty.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman found in March 2024 that ministers were at fault and should compensate the more than 3.6 million affected women.

However, ministers have yet to respond, despite support from hundreds of MPs.

MP Sir Julian Lewis, representing New Forest East, is among those backing the compensation calls.

He said: "Through no fault of their own, tens of thousands of WASPI women are suffering in dire financial straits as a result of the then Government’s failure to properly inform them of increases to their State Pension age.

"With the Budget now just days away, ministers must urgently follow the clear instructions of the Parliamentary Ombudsman by fairly compensating and apologising to them.

"With thousands of women affected locally, I will continue to advocate for the justice they deserve."

The local Women Against State Pension (WASPI) campaign group says there are approximately 6,350 affected women living in New Forest East.

Local Women Against State Pension (WASPI) campaign group co-ordinator, Shelagh Simmons, said: "Thousands of women in New Forest East had their retirement plans thrown into chaos after successive governments failed to properly inform them of increases to their State Pension age.

"The Parliamentary Ombudsman delivered clear recommendations more than six months ago, calling on ministers to fairly compensate those affected as soon as possible.

"With one WASPI women tragically dying every 13 minutes, ministers must urgently step in to make sure justice is finally delivered.

"We simply cannot afford to wait any longer."

The protest in London is set to take place from 12 noon to 3pm.

Those wishing to find out further information can contact solentwaspi@gmail.com.