Committees

Underpayments of the State Pension

Inquiry

In early 2020 the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) became aware of underpayments of State Pension affecting certain women who reached State Pension Age before 2016. Subsequent DWP investigations uncovered systematic issues meaning that tens of thousands of people might have been underpaid State Pension for many years. DWP is currently working to identify all affected individuals and began making repayments in January 2021.

However, this is not the first widespread error discovered at DWP in recent years, and correcting these errors comes at great cost to the taxpayer.

The Committee will questions senior officials at DWP on who has been underpaid the state pension in this instance, and why, what DWP is doing to put it right and what lessons it is learning that it can apply to similar problems it has experienced over many years across other benefits.

If you have evidence on these issues, please submit it here by Monday 25 October 2021.

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Monday 25 October 2021.

Reports, special reports and government responses

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Thirty-Third Report - Underpayments of the State Pension
Inquiry Underpayments of the State Pension
Committees Public Accounts Committee
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HC 654
Report
Response to this report
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Thirty Third report from Session 2021-22
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Government Response

Oral evidence transcripts

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28 October 2021
Inquiry Underpayments of the State Pension
Committees Public Accounts Committee
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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USP0005 - Underpayments of the State Pension
Witnesses Mrs Rebecca Wilkinson (n/a at n/a)
Committees Public Accounts Committee
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Written Evidence

Other publications

Government Responses
The Government has undertaken to respond to most committee reports within two months, although there are exceptions to this rule.
1 published
Correspondence
Committees exchange letters with government departments and others, often to request information or follow up on recommendations.
3 published

Contact us

  • Email: pubaccom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 3273 (General enquiries). For all media enquiries please contact Jessica Bridges Palmer bridgespalmerj@parliament.uk / 07917488489
  • Address: Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA