State pension error affecting widows

Widowed pensioners are being urged to check they’re being paid the right state pension.

Former pensions minister Steve Webb has raised concerns that the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has failed to automatically pay inherited state pensions to some people.

Webb told consumer group Which? that thousands of people have potentially been underpaid and he’s urging DWP to investigate.

Who might be affected?

You’re more likely to be affected if:

• you were widowed before retiring
• you claim the new state pension
• your spouse reached pension age or died before 6 April 2016

What’s DWP said?

DWP said delays can happen when information is missing from a claim: “In these cases, we will make a state pension award based on the customer’s own national insurance record until we have the required information.”

Claims will be revised accordingly, it added.

How can I check if I’m affected?

Pension entitlement rules are complicated, so pensions consultancy firm Lane Clark and Peacock has created a free tool to help you understand what you can inherit if your spouse or civil partner has died, or what you may inherit if they die before you.

There’s also a similar tool by DWP.