DWP issues state pension back payment update - see if you could be owed £1,000s

14 March 2024 , 12:13

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Thousands of people, mainly women, have been underpaid their state pension (Image: Getty Images/Tetra images RF)

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced an update on underpaid state pensions will be published before the end of this month.

Those who have potentially been underpaid include married women and widows who hit state pension age before April 2016. Those aged 80 and over - regardless of whether they're married or not - may also be owed cash. It is believed more than 230,000 people, mainly women but also some men, are affected and could be due a payout.

The last figures published by the DWP at the end of November, show that between January 11, 2021 and October 31, 2023, the checking process has identified 82,323 underpayments, owed a total of £497million. The data also indicates 595,964 state pension awards have been reviewed, with average payouts ranging between £2,245 and £12,383.

But an update on the process of the correction exercise is due within the next few weeks. Pensions Minister Paul Maynard MP also said the report will cover progress made up until the end of February this year.

In a written response earlier this week, Mr Maynard said: “The Department uses all available resources to identify heirs. In the instance when a response is not received for the initial contact letter, we issue further letters inviting the heir to contact DWP.” Commenting on the LEAP exercise, he said: “The Department will be publishing its progress with the State Pension Underpayment Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practice (LEAP) exercises to the end of February 2024 before the end of March 2024.”

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How do I check if I am due money?

An online calculator has been set up by former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb to help you see whether you've been underpaid. Some of the groups of people who reached state pension age before April 2016 and who could be owed money include:

• Married women who should have received an upgrade to a 60% basic state pension when their husband retired.

• Widows and widowers who should have inherited an enhanced state pension when their spouse died.

• Over 80s already in receipt of a state pension when they turned 80, who should have been automatically upgraded to a 60% basic state pension.

Linda Howard