DWP state pensioner secures £1,000 in back-payments – check if you’re owed money | Personal Finance | Finance
A state pensioner who had to do battle with three Government departments to secure her owed back-payments is receiving £1,000.
Express.co.uk previously spoke to the 90-year-old and her family, as she was one thousands of women entitled to back-payments due to an error with Home Responsibilities Protection.
The family told us in an update on April 15: “We just got a letter confirming she is getting a payment of just over £1,000 to cover the backdated payment and there will be a slight increase in her weekly pension.”
They later clarified that her state pension is increasing by £17 a week, or £884 a year.
The family previously spoke of their frustration as they were going “round in circles” phoning up several departments, being told to try online through the Government website, which then directed them back to the same phoneline.
Am I owed state pension back payments?
The DWP has been writing to thousands of mostly women who may have previously been eligible for HRP but were missing it from their National Insurance (NI) record.
HRP was supposed to be automatically applied to those claiming Child Benefit to ensure they received their NI contributions while they were on the benefit.
People who think they may be affected should look out for a letter from HMRC about the issue.
The tax department is sending out letters in batches with an initial focus on those who have reached state pension age.
If you think you have been underpaid your state pension, you can call the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469.
A Government spokesperson told Express.co.uk previously: “We have identified and are correcting an issue related to the historical recording of Home Responsibilities Protection on the National Insurance records for people who first claimed Child Benefit before May 2000.
“Most people’s records will be unaffected, and we have an online tool to help people check whether they need to claim. HMRC began writing to those likely to be affected last autumn.
“State pension underpayment rates are very low but where errors do occur, we are committed to fixing them as quickly as possible.”
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