In a reply on Monday, February 9, the DWP said it has “apologised for not sending State Pension age letters sooner.”

It added: “Deciding not to pay compensation and the Ombudsman’s report relate to that, not the petition’s “hardship…caused by pension changes”.”

The DWP said: “On 29 January the Secretary of State announced the Government’s new decision on the Ombudsman’s investigation.

“He accepted that individual letters about changes to the State Pension age could have been sent earlier.

“He apologised for that maladministration in the House of Commons and in the document explaining his decision which has been published.”

Despite the statement, the petition DOES have a slim glimmer of hope. At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Angela Madden, the chair of WASPI, said the group was now taking legal advice and “all options remain on the table. We stand ready to pursue every avenue in parliament and in the courts to secure the justice that has been so shamefully denied.”

Mrs Madden added: “Ministers have demonstrated their utter contempt for 1950s-born women, for parliament and for the parliamentary ombudsman.

“The government has kicked the can down the road for months, only to arrive at exactly the same conclusion it has always wanted to.

“This is a disgraceful political choice by a small group of very powerful people who have decided the harm and injustice suffered by millions of ordinary women simply does not matter.”