What began with the government insisting that cases of women being underpaid state pensions were isolated and uncommon has turned into an official inquiry that could see the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pay out £2.7bn in compensation. The DWP said last week that 200,000 women may not be receiving as much state pension as they are entitled to. It estimates that the average woman is owed a top-up of £13,500.
The shortfall, initially uncovered by researchers at the insurer Royal London, stems from poor record keeping at the DWP over several decades. It failed to keep track of women who should have received enhanced pensions under the old state-pension system, which topped up the income paid to married women on smaller pensions through complicated links to their husbands’ entitlements. In some cases, women who have been receiving a state pension of only a few pounds each week have discovered, late in their retirement, that they are owed thousands, or even tens of thousands, of pounds. But many others have no idea they have missed out – and until earlier this year, the DWP had refused to launch a full-scale investigation.
Broadly speaking, the issue applies to women who are married or in a civil partnership and reached state-pension benefits before April 2016. They may be entitled to extra state pension based on their partners’ national insurance contributions. People who have been widowed or divorced may also be in line for additional payments.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The DWP said last week that it now has 100 civil servants working on the inquiry. But it will take some time to complete: there are several hundred thousand cases still to get through.
A landmark ruling on age discrimination
Members of public-sector pension schemes affected by a landmark court ruling on age discrimination will be given an improved deal to ensure they can maximise their pension benefits, the government has announced.
This issue dates from reforms to public-sector pension schemes implemented by the government in 2015. As part of the changes, scheme members within a decade of retirement were allowed to remain in the existing, unreformed schemes, but younger members were moved into new schemes offering less generous benefits.
In 2018 the courts ruled that the reforms were illegal because they discriminated against younger scheme members. In response, the government has announced a new deal, which will use a device known as a “deferred choice underpin”. Members affected by the ruling will now have a choice when they reach retirement, with the option of receiving benefits calculated in line with the reforms, or as if the changes had never taken place.
Importantly, savers will be able to make a decision on an informed basis, according to the value of the two options when they retire, rather than having to make assumptions about the future today. Not everyone will be better off by simply keeping hold of their old benefits, so this is potentially valuable.
-
Coventry Building Society bids £780m for Co-operative Bank - what could it mean for customers?Coventry Building Society has put in an offer of £780 million to buy Co-operative Bank. When will the potential deal happen and what could it mean for customers?
-
Review: Three magnificent Beachcomber resorts in MauritiusMoneyWeek Travel Ruth Emery explores the Indian Ocean island from Beachcomber resorts Shandrani, Trou aux Biches and Paradis
-
What pension providers don't tell you about your retirement moneyCheck the small print from your pension provider or risk losing thousands.
-
Britain’s stifling tax burdenChancellor Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement will see the tax burden rise in each of the next 5 years.
-
Brace for a year of tax risesThe government is strapped for cash, so prepare for tax rises. But it’s unlikely to be able to squeeze much more out of us.
-
Lock in high yields on savings, before they disappearAs interest rates peak, time to lock in high yields on your savings, while they are still available.
-
How to cut the cost of home insuranceHome insurance policies are becoming increasingly expensive, but there are several ways you can keep costs down.
-
Are lifestyle funds still fit for purpose?Lifestyle funds have failed to do what they were supposed to do – shield savers from risk in the run-up to retirement.
-
Act now to bag NatWest-owned Ulster Bank's 5.2% easy access savings accountUlster Bank is offering savers the chance to earn 5.2% on their cash savings, but you need to act fast as easy access rates are falling. We have all the details
-
Moneybox raises market-leading cash ISA to 5%Savings and investing app MoneyBox has boosted the rate on its cash ISA again, hiking it from 4.75% to 5% making it one of top rates. We have all the details.
