A widespread error has left thousands of married state pensioners underpaid for years.
Many married women who reached state pension age before April 2016 have been missing out on a significant boost to their pension payments. Due to a pre-2008 rule, these women were eligible for an increase in their state pension based on their husband’s National Insurance record. However, many were unaware of this entitlement did not realise they had to apply for this increase.
Jan Tiernan, 84, is one of the thousands of women affected by this error. She and her husband, Roy, have been underpaid by £24 per week for 18 years. Ms. Tiernan believes that the DWP failed to properly inform her and her husband of their entitlement, despite claiming to have sent a letter when Roy turned 65.
This oversight has resulted in a significant financial loss for Ms. Tiernan and countless other women. She expressed her anger and frustration at the DWP’s handling of the situation, highlighting the potential impact the missed payments could have had on her and her husband’s lives.
The error is likely due to a combination of factors, including the complexity of the rules and the DWP’s failure to effectively communicate with pensioners. This issue raises concerns about the fairness and transparency of the state pension system.
As more women become aware of the underpayment, it is expected that the DWP will face increasing pressure to address the issue and provide compensation to those affected.
