Pensioners face shortfall as call centres cut them off, warn MPS

PENSIONERS worried they have been underpaid their state pension are being turned away by government call centres, according to MPS.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officials have been told to cut short calls about the state pension from those who does not fit into a specific set of groups, according to Westminster’s Public Accounts Committee and the Work and Pensions Select Committee.

The pensions department has faced criticism over the “extremely worrying” policy, which was highlighted in a joint letter from the two committees. Stephen Timms, the chairman of the select committee, and Dame Meg Hillier, of the PAC, warned the rule could deter pensioners from taking action that could increase their entitlement.

More than 134,000 women have been underpaid £1billion in a government blunder but many of those due a windfall could be turned away when they try to query their status.

The DWP has pledged to track down and reimburse all those who have been left out of pocket and will do so by the end of 2023.

However, a third of the way through the repayment exercise, just 9 per cent of the £1billion owed has been repaid. A total 14,239 underpayments had been identified and £94.3 million repaid by the end of February.

Sir Steve Webb, a former pensions minister who uncovered the underpayments, said it was “worrying” the DWP had not made more progress.

Sir Steve warned there was a risk those who need to actively make a claim in order to get their money back “might get fobbed off ”.

A DWP spokesman said: “The action we are taking will correct the underpayments that have been made by successive governments and we have set up a dedicated team and devoted to [this].”