New figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that £209.3 million in State Pension underpayments have been repaid to 31,817 pensioners since the correction exercise began in January 2021 and the end of October 2022.
Those who have been underpaid include some pensioners who were married and should have received an upgraded State Pension, people who were widowed and the over-80s. The new DWP figures show that arrears payments made to married women average £6,929, for widowed pensioners it averages £10,772 and for those over 80, £3,172.
While the check and correction exercise affects motley women, some men may have been underpaid too. One pensions expert said the total repaid so far is a “drop in the ocean” when compared to the amount estimated to have been underpaid overall.
