Criticism over letters asking bereaved relatives to return pension overpayments

The Department for Work and Pensions overpaid more than £500 million of state pension and pension credit payments into accounts of those who had died over five years (Lucy North/PA) - (PA Wire)

Letters sent to bereaved relatives asking them to return pension payments made in error do not make clear it is optional, a former pensions minister has said.

Sir Steve Webb said the letters from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) do not make clear that repaying the money is voluntary.