Since January 2021, the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been reviewing errors in state pension payments. It turns out that thousands of people—especially older women and pensioners in specific groups—were underpaid their pension.
These errors mainly affected:
- Married women born before April 1953
- Widows and widowers
- People aged over 80 who were receiving less than £85 a week from their state pension
Why? These pensioners were supposed to get additional payments based on their spouse’s National Insurance contributions—but many didn’t, due to administrative errors and outdated systems.
How Much Was Missed?
Between January 2021 and September 2024, the DWP identified 119,050 underpayment cases, totaling £736 million.
This means each person missed out on an average of about £6,200. However, some received back payments of up to £11,905 or more, depending on how long the error had gone unnoticed.
When Will People Get Their Money?
DWP’s Permanent Secretary Peter Schofield recently updated Parliament on the situation:
- Most of the cases were resolved by December 2024.
- A few complex ones remain, often because the DWP needs extra documents from pensioners.
- People have up to 2 years to send in missing information.
- All cases should be resolved by March 2027.
So, if you’re still waiting, hang tight—your case may be one of the remaining few.
Why Did These Errors Happen?
A big reason behind the mistake lies in how the state pension system used to work:
- Before 2016, married women could claim a 60% pension based on their husband’s contributions.
- Women who stayed home to raise children and claimed Child Benefit before 2000 sometimes had gaps or mistakes in their National Insurance records.
- The system didn’t always automatically update their entitlements—leading to years of underpayment.
Will the DWP Share Full Details?
Yes. DWP says it will release:
- The total number of corrected cases
- The full amount of money paid out
These figures will be published alongside the Spring Budget Statement on March 26, 2025.
Do You Think You Were Underpaid? Here’s What to Do
In most cases, if you were owed money, the DWP should automatically contact you. But if you’re unsure or believe you were underpaid, you can:
Contact the DWP directly
Or reach out via the Gov.uk website to ask for a pension review.
FAQs
1. How many people were underpaid and how much money was involved?
Between 2021 and 2024, the DWP found 119,050 cases of underpayment.
The total amount underpaid was £736 million.
2. How much could an affected person receive in back pay?
It varies by individual case, but:
- The average back payment was around £6,200
- Some people received up to £11,905 or more
3. Will I be contacted if I’m owed money?
Yes, in most cases the DWP will contact you automatically.
However, if you think you were underpaid and haven’t heard anything, you can contact the DWP to request a review.
4. When will the government release the full details of the review?
The DWP will publish a detailed update—including the number of corrected cases and the total amount paid—alongside the Spring Statement on 26 March 2025.
5. Can I still claim if I haven’t yet?
Yes, but time matters. If DWP has asked you for additional documents, you generally have up to 2 years to respond. The sooner you act, the quicker your case will be resolved.
