Underpayment of state pension

John1125

Hi - recently had letter from DWP advising they had underpaid my late mum's state pension and to fill out form included if I wanted to request same.
I was executor for mum and had probate granted, so have completed and sent form back to DWP.
Am just wondering though what this is about as no further details or amounts etc in letter.
All they advise is it is payable from Dec 2007 (when dad passed) to Mar 2020 (when mum passed).
Dad was born in 1936 and Mum in 1935 - both school teachers; although mum had time out (10 years or so) to raise me and sister. Both had state and work/school pensions and, although not rich, had comfortable retirements.
I wasn't expecting anything, and all estate sorted years ago, so just wondering if anyone has any idea what this might be about or can shed any light? Thanks in advance.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

John1125 said:

Hi - recently had letter from DWP advising they had underpaid my late mum's state pension and to fill out form included if I wanted to request same.
I was executor for mum and had probate granted, so have completed and sent form back to DWP.
Am just wondering though what this is about as no further details or amounts etc in letter.
All they advise is it is payable from Dec 2007 (when dad passed) to Mar 2020 (when mum passed).
Dad was born in 1936 and Mum in 1935 - both school teachers; although mum had time out (10 years or so) to raise me and sister. Both had state and work/school pensions and, although not rich, had comfortable retirements.
I wasn't expecting anything, and all estate sorted years ago, so just wondering if anyone has any idea what this might be about or can shed any light? Thanks in advance.

It will probably be about this.  There are some average payments quoted but how that correlates to your mum's situation is anyone's guess.

She could well be in the second category, which has the highest average payment though.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-pension-underpayments-progress-on-cases-reviewed-to-29-february-2024/state-pension-underpayments-progress-on-cases-reviewed-to-29-february-2024

xylophone

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-13750087/DWP-inherit-state-pension-late-husband.html

https://www.lcp.com/en/our-impact/is-your-state-pension-being-underpaid#:~:text=The DWP announced at the,having to take any action.

Mistakes happen........

Dazed_and_C0nfused

This is worth a read, in particular the Death before back-payment is made section

https://www.litrg.org.uk/pensions/state-pension/tax-state-pension/how-tax-collected-state-pension

Sweetpea888

My Mum passed away in 2012 and had known she was underpaid for her pension but thought there was no way to claim this back. It was only 2 years ago that my father saw an article saying that this could still be claimed back from DWP. We applied and received a letter to say that it was taking a very long time due to the number of claims. We have now just received a letter saying that they no longer retain state pensions records for the deceased after a certain length of time. I’ve no idea why they have only just decided to tell us this and not when we first applied. Has anyone else had this issue or appealed it ? 

Thanks 

QrizB

Sweetpea888 said:

My Mum passed away in 2012 .... We have now just received a letter saying that they no longer retain state pensions records for the deceased after a certain length of time. I’ve no idea why they have only just decided to tell us this and not when we first applied.

I would guess it's because of the other thing you mentioned:

Sweetpea888 said:

We applied and received a letter to say that it was taking a very long time due to the number of claims.

It's possible that your application has only just made it to the top of the pile, and they've only now been able to tell you that 2012 was too long ago.