Tens of thousands of pensioners across the UK are being urged to check whether they’re owed money, following the government’s admission of widespread underpayments in the State Pension system. According to the latest official data released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), more than 130,000 people have been underpaid their rightful pension – amounting to over £800 million in back payments.
This ongoing correction effort, which began in 2021, has uncovered what many are calling one of the most significant pension scandals in UK history.
Who Has Been Underpaid Their State Pension?
The DWP’s review identified several key groups who may have been underpaid due to historic administrative errors:
Married women whose pensions were not correctly increased when their husband retired — average back payment: £5,553
Widows whose state pension was not automatically reassessed after their spouse passed away — average owed: £11,725
Over-80s whose pensions were not increased to the correct minimum amount — average shortfall: £2,203
According to Rachel Vahey, head of public policy at AJ Bell, this is “one of the biggest benefit scandals of modern times”, stressing that every affected pensioner must be repaid quickly and accurately.
How to Check If You’re Eligible for State Pension Back Payments
If you or a family member fall into any of the categories listed above, you may be entitled to thousands of pounds in backdated pension payments.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to checking and claiming:
1. Check Your Eligibility for a State Pension
To be eligible for a UK State Pension, you must have reached State Pension age and have sufficient National Insurance contributions. You can check your retirement age using the official government calculator:
🔗 Calculate your State Pension age
2. Understand Whether You’re in a High-Risk Group for Underpayment
You may be affected if:
- You are a married woman who claimed a lower pension rate and your husband turned 65 before 17 March 2008.
- You are a widow whose pension wasn’t reassessed following your spouse’s death.
- You are aged 80 or over and receiving a low basic pension.
- You are a divorced woman whose pension wasn’t correctly updated.
- You rely on a Category BL (Basic Pension for Married Women).
Many people in these groups do not need to take any action, as the DWP is working through known cases. However, some will need to contact the Pension Service directly if they haven’t been notified.
How to Claim: Contact the Pension Service
If you believe you may have been underpaid — or you’re unsure — it’s essential to reach out to the Pension Service to ask for a reassessment.
Here’s how to contact them:
Pension Underpayment Calculator (For Married Women)
Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP), a leading pensions advisory firm, has developed a free calculator to help married women determine whether they’ve been underpaid. This tool is especially useful for those whose husbands reached pension age before March 2008.
🔗 Visit the LCP Pension Underpayment Checker
What’s Next for Affected Pensioners?
The DWP says it has completed the majority of cases, but some remain unresolved due to missing documentation. If you think you’re owed money, don’t wait — millions of pounds are still to be reclaimed, and the sooner you act, the better.
Experts are calling for more transparency and urgency from the DWP. In the meantime, thousands of pensioners are still unaware they’ve been shortchanged.
“We are talking about life-changing sums of money, often for older women living on limited means,” says Steve Webb, partner at LCP and former pensions minister.
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Don’t Assume You’re Being Paid Correctly
If you’re a pensioner, widow, or over 80, it’s essential to double-check your entitlement. A few minutes could uncover a shortfall of £5,000 or more. The DWP will not always contact you automatically, so take action now to protect your financial rights.