The ‘Request information about underpaid State Pension for someone who has died’ service has closed (Image: GETTY)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has quietly made some changes to its procedures as the new year rolled in.
From January 1, the ‘Request information about underpaid for someone who has died’ service has been discontinued.
This service was previously available to assist individuals who discovered that their deceased loved ones were not receiving the full they had been entitled to. It provided guidance on how to verify this and what steps to take next.
Now, Brits will have to directly contact the if they suspect their late relative was underpaid. For those residing in Great Britain, they can call 0800 731 0469, text 0800 731 0464 or use 18001 for Relay UK and then dial 0800 731 0469.
Welsh speakers can reach out via 0800 731 0453 or text 0800 731 0456 from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm. However, if the deceased lived in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Pension Centre should be contacted.
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Similarly, for those who lived abroad, the International Pension Centre is the point of contact.
The service was initially established after the identified certain groups in 2020 who had not received the automatic increase in their that they were legally owed.
Regrettably, by the time this discovery was made, some of those affected had already passed away.
The issue predominantly impacted individuals who were married or widowed at the time of their death, and those aged 80 or above when they passed away. Information on how to determine if a loved one was affected can be found on the , but it’s necessary to know the deceased’s date of birth, marital status at death, and the amount of they were entitled to.
Don’t miss… [UPDATE]
In an attempt to rectify this error, the attempted to reach out to everyone affected or sent letters to their next of kin or executor of their estate between January 11, 2021, and December 31, 2024. However, it’s possible that some people may have been overlooked in these corrections.
The suggests that if you believe someone has been underpaid , you can contact the department if you are their next of kin or executor and have not yet been contacted by the . It’s important to note that you’ll need the following information about the deceased when contacting the :
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Date of death
- Last known address, including their postcode
- Full name of their spouse or civil partner if applicable
- National Insurance number