A campaign group has vowed to continue its fight for pension equality for women in Dumfries and Galloway.
The Back to 60 campaign had taken the UK Government to court in an attempt to force a change to the policy which increased the pension age for women.
But judges at the High Court in London ruled the change in policy was not discriminatory and women impacted were not entitled to compensation or payment for the years of lost state pension.
However Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaigners insist their fight is not over.
Delya Wilkinson, the group’s Dumfries and Galloway co-ordinator, said: “I wasn’t surprised at the verdict.
“We can now continue our campaign to take the Department of Work and Pensions to court for maladministration for not informing us in good time our pension ages had been changed.
“The worst affected are women on their own, struggling with physically demanding jobs and finding themselves torn between helping with grandchildren and their own parents.
“Single women with mortgages are having to sell their houses as they are suddenly unable to afford it after losing a husband.
“There is a benefit system not fit for purpose for those not computer savvy.
“Single women are not applying for benefits because of this.”
Delya, from Twynholm, added: “The independent case examiner sent a letter to us all when the judicial review was announced that our complaints were shelved.
“I had already waited a year for their decision.
“The ombudsman is now looking at the judicial review findings.
“He has some complaints that did reach that stage so we are waiting for his decision.
“We will continue to help with this issue and have had considerable help from Emma Harper MSP in reaching out to our Dumfries and Galloway women.”
Women born in the 1950s argue that the rise is unfair as they were not given enough time to make adjustments to cope with years without a state pension.
