About 237,000 pensioners have been underpaid the state pension
The issue largely affects women who started to claim the state pension before April 2016
But all those over age 80 getting less than £85.11 a week should check if they have been underpaid
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that about 237,000 pensioners have been underpaid the state pension and so far has identified 31,817 such cases. The National Audit Office estimates that the average repayment owed to affected pensioners is £8,900.
The issue largely affects women who started to claim the state pension before April 2016. Many did not receive the state pension they were entitled to under their husband's National Insurance (NI) record and others did not get uplifts they were entitled to when their husbands died.
If you are married, widowed or divorced, and your spouse or civil partner reached or would have reached state pension age before April 2016, you can claim an uplift in your state pension if your entitlement is less than 60 per cent of the basic state pension.
"Those receiving less than £85.11 per week are entitled to this top up," says Kay Ingram, chartered financial planner. "Widows whose husbands reached state retirement age before 2016 whose own pension didn't increase after his death, should query their entitlement. [If such] underpaid pensioners [have died their] estates may also claim."
Helen Morrissey, senior pensions and retirement analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, adds: "The DWP is running a correction exercise to identify these underpayments but while some people will get repayments automatically, others may not, so it is worth contacting the Pension Service to see if you can make a claim."
All those over age 80 - whether married or not - should check if they have been underpaid because if their NI record gives them less than £85.11 a week they can claim a class D state pension.
To find out more or make a claim call The Pension Service on 0800 731 0469.
