More than 180,000 women in the UK are waiting to be paid money that they are owed from their state pensions. Many of them have been waiting for years. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) promised to fix the problem—but progress has been very slow.
What Is the Pension Underpayment Scandal?
This problem affects married women who were under the old state pension system before 2016.
In 2020, the company Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP) found that many women were being paid too little pension, even going back to 1985.
In 2021, the DWP admitted the mistake and promised to fix it. They set aside £1.1 billion to pay women what they were owed.
How Many Women Have Been Paid?
Even though the government promised to fix it, only 12,379 women have been paid so far.
That means over 180,000 women are still waiting.
| Status | Number of Women |
|---|---|
| Women Paid | 12,379 |
| Women Still Waiting | 180,000+ |
| Letters Sent by DWP | 370,000 |
| Total Budget Set Aside | £1.1 Billion |
| Amount Paid So Far | £104 Million |
Why Haven’t More Women Been Paid?
The DWP sent letters to over 370,000 women. But only a few replied.
Here’s why many women didn’t respond:
- They thought the letters were scams
- They didn’t know they were eligible
- The online system was hard to use, especially for older women
Sir Steve Webb, a former pensions minister, said the process was too hard. He believes the DWP made it too complicated for seniors.
What Caused the Mistake?
The mistake happened because of:
- Old computer systems
- Manual data entry
- Poor checking and monitoring
The errors began in 1985 and went unnoticed for many years.
Conclusion: These Women Deserve Better
This pension scandal is not just a small issue—it affects the lives of thousands of older women. They worked hard their whole lives and trusted the government to pay their pensions. Now, many are still waiting, years later. The DWP must act faster and make it easier for these women to get the money they deserve.
FAQ’s
1. Who is affected by this pension error?
Mostly married women under the old UK state pension system before 2016.
2. How much money is still owed?
Over £1 billion is still waiting to be paid out to more than 180,000 women.
3. What can I do if I think I’m affected?
You can use the DWP’s online tool or call them directly—but many experts suggest the system needs to be simpler.