Born Before 1960 You May Be Missing Out on State Pension Money — Check Now!

[00:00:00]Did you know that if you were born before 1960, there's a very real possibility that you could be missing out on thousands of pounds in state pension money?

[00:00:10]I'm not talking about small change here.

[00:00:13]Some people have discovered they're owed over £10,000 in back pay, sometimes even more.

[00:00:19]The shocking truth is that Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions have admitted that tens of thousands of pensioners have been underpaid their rightful state pension for years, sometimes even decades.

[00:00:35]If you're already receiving your state pension and you were born before April 1960, I need you to pay very close attention to what I'm about to share with you today.

[00:00:46]This could be one of the most financially important pieces of information you'll hear this year.

[00:00:52]Stay with me because by the end of this video, you'll know exactly how to check if you're affected, what you need to do about it, and how to claim what's rightfully yours.

[00:01:03]Before we dive in, make sure you stay until the very end because I'll be sharing some insider tips that could maximize your claim and speed up the entire process.

[00:01:14]Let me start by explaining why people born before 1960 are specifically at risk of being underpaid.

[00:01:21]The issue primarily affects women who reached state pension age before April 2016, but it also impacts some men in specific circumstances.

[00:01:31]The problem stems from several complex issues related to how the old state pension system worked, particularly regarding married women, widows, and people who should have received increases when their circumstances changed.

[00:01:45]Under the old state pension rules, which applied to anyone who reached state pension age before the new state pension was introduced in April 2016, married women could claim an increase to their pension based on their husband's national insurance record once he reached state pension age.

[00:02:01]Similarly, widows and people over 80 could be entitled to increases that should have been applied automatically, but in many cases simply weren't.

[00:02:10]The government has acknowledged that these errors occurred due to a combination of outdated computer systems, manual processing errors, and in some cases a simple failure to update records when someone's circumstances changed.

[00:02:25]Think about it for a moment. We're talking about systems that were designed decades ago, long before digital automation became the norm.

[00:02:33]Records were kept manually, and when someone's marital status changed, when a spouse reached pension age, or when someone turned 80, these triggers didn't always result in the pension increase they should have.

[00:02:47]So, who exactly is affected? Let me break this down into clear categories so you can immediately identify if you might be one of the people owed money.

[00:02:57]First, we have married women who reached state pension age before April 2016.

[00:03:03]If you're a woman who built up a small state pension in your own right, perhaps because you took time out of work to raise children or care for family members, you should have had your pension increased to 60% of your husband's basic state pension once he reached his state pension age.

[00:03:20]The keyword here is should have.

[00:03:22]Thousands of women never received this increase or it was calculated incorrectly.

[00:03:28]Second, there are widows and widowers.

[00:03:31]If your spouse passed away and you inherited additional state pension based on their national insurance contributions, there's a possibility that this wasn't calculated correctly or wasn't applied at all.

[00:03:42]The rules around inherited state pension are complicated involving basic state pension, additional state pension, and protected payments, which means errors were unfortunately common.

[00:03:53]Third, we have people who reach the age of 80.

[00:03:57]Once you turn 80, you should receive an age addition to your state pension. A small increase, but one you're legally entitled to.

[00:04:05]Some people never received this despite qualifying for it.

[00:04:10]Fourth, there are divorced women whose state pension should have been based on their ex-husband's national insurance record.

[00:04:17]If you divorced before you reached state pension age, you may have been entitled to use your ex-husband's contribution record to boost your pension, but this sometimes wasn't applied correctly.

[00:04:28]Let me share some real examples to illustrate just how significant these underpayments can be.

[00:04:34]One woman from Yorkshire discovered she had been underpaid by nearly £15,000 over the course of nine years. She'd been receiving just £73 a week when she should have been getting £134.

[00:04:49]Another widow from Cornwall found she was owed over £8,000 because her late husband's additional state pension had never been added to hers.

[00:04:58]These aren't isolated incidents. The government identified over 134,000 cases requiring correction with an estimated total underpayment running into hundreds of millions of pounds.

[00:05:11]But here's the thing that really concerns me. These are only the cases the government has identified. There are likely many more people who haven't been found yet. People who have no idea they're being underpaid.

[00:05:24]Now, let me explain what the government is doing about this.

[00:05:28]The Department for Work and Pensions launched a major review and has been working through cases systematically.

[00:05:34]They've been writing to people they've identified as having been underpaid, apologizing for the error, and issuing back payments with interest. If you've received such a letter, the money should be paid into your account automatically, without you needing to do anything.

[00:05:49]However, and this is crucial, the government's review might not catch everyone.

[00:05:55]Their systems can only flag cases where they have accurate records of your circumstances.

[00:06:00]If your records are incomplete, or if information about a change in your marital status, or a spouse's pension age wasn't properly recorded, you might not be on their list, even though you're entitled to more money.

[00:06:13]This is why it's absolutely essential that you check your own situation, rather than waiting to be contacted.

[00:06:20]Don't assume that because you haven't received a letter, everything is fine.

[00:06:24]The government themselves have said that people should check their state pension statements, and contact them if they think there might be an error.

[00:06:32]So, how do you check if you're affected?

[00:06:35]Let me walk you through the steps you need to take right now.

[00:06:38]Your first step is to get a proper breakdown of your state pension.

[00:06:42]You can do this by requesting a state pension statement.

[00:06:46]If you're already receiving your state pension, you should have received statements, but you can request a detailed breakdown by calling the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469.

[00:06:59]When you call, ask them to explain exactly how your state pension has been calculated, and whether any increases related to your spouse were applied.

[00:07:07]Before you make that call, gather some important information.

[00:07:12]You'll need your National Insurance number, details of when you and your spouse reached state pension age, information about your marital status, including dates of any marriages or divorces, and if you're widowed, the date your spouse passed away.

[00:07:27]Having this information ready will make the process much smoother.

[00:07:32]When you speak to the Pension Service, ask specific questions. Don't just ask if your pension is correct, ask whether you qualify for any increase based on your husband's contributions, if you're a married woman.

[00:07:44]Ask whether any inherited pension from a late spouse has been included, if you're widowed.

[00:07:50]Ask whether your age addition was applied when you turned 80.

[00:07:54]Be specific and persistent.

[00:07:56]If you're not confident about making this call yourself, or if you find the answers you receive confusing, consider asking a family member to help you.

[00:08:05]You can also contact organizations like Age UK or Citizens Advice, who have trained advisers who can help you understand your entitlements and support you through the checking process.

[00:08:16]Now, what happens if you discover you have been underpaid?

[00:08:20]First, don't panic, and second, don't feel embarrassed or reluctant to claim what's yours.

[00:08:26]This isn't about asking for favors or handouts. This is money you are legally entitled to, money that should have been paid to you all along.

[00:08:35]The Department for Work and Pensions has committed to correcting these errors and paying back what's owed.

[00:08:41]If they identify that you've been underpaid, you should receive all the arrears going back to when the underpayment started or April 2016, whichever is later. Although some cases are receiving back pay for even longer periods.

[00:08:54]The back payment will usually be paid as a lump sum into the same account where your regular state pension is paid.

[00:09:02]Your ongoing pension payments will also be increased to the correct amount.

[00:09:06]In many cases, you'll also receive interest on the money you should have been paid, compensating you for the time you've been without it.

[00:09:14]How long does this process take?

[00:09:17]Based on reports from people who have been through it, the timeline varies considerably.

[00:09:22]Some people have received their back pay within a few weeks of the error being identified, while others have waited several months.

[00:09:29]The complexity of your case and the current backlog of claims being processed both affect how quickly things move.

[00:09:36]If you've made an inquiry and several months have passed without resolution, don't be afraid to follow up. Keep a record of when you called, who you spoke to, and what was said.

[00:09:48]If you're not getting anywhere with the standard helpline, you can escalate your complaint through the official complaints procedure.

[00:09:55]Let me address a question many people have. Is there a deadline for claiming this money?

[00:10:01]Generally speaking, state pension underpayments can be claimed going back several years, but there's no specific cutoff date that's been announced for these particular errors.

[00:10:11]However, my strong advice is don't delay. The sooner you check, and if necessary make a claim, the sooner you'll receive any money you're owed, and the sooner your ongoing pension will be corrected.

[00:10:23]There's also an important point about people who have sadly passed away.

[00:10:28]If someone died before these errors were discovered and corrected, their estate may still be entitled to the back pay they should have received. If you're the executor of an estate or the next of kin of someone who you believe was underpaid, it's worth investigating whether a claim can be made on their behalf.

[00:10:45]What about tax implications? Any back pay you receive is considered income for the years in which it should originally have been paid. HMRC will calculate whether any additional tax is due and will usually deduct this before the payment is made to you.

[00:11:01]Your ongoing increased pension will of course be taxed as income in the normal way if your total income exceeds the personal allowance.

[00:11:08]I also want to address some of the emotions people feel when they discover they've been underpaid.

[00:11:14]Many people tell me they feel angry, upset, or let down by a system they trusted.

[00:11:20]These feelings are completely valid. You paid your national insurance contributions in good faith. You followed the rules, and the system failed you.

[00:11:30]It's okay to feel frustrated about that.

[00:11:33]At the same time, try to channel that energy into making sure you get what you're entitled to.

[00:11:39]The best response is to take action.

[00:11:42]Check your situation, claim what's yours, and spread the word to others who might also be affected. Speaking of spreading the word, please share this information with friends and family members who might be affected. Talk to your neighbors, your relatives, people at your community center, or place of worship. The people most likely to have been underpaid are often those least likely to advocate for themselves or navigate complex bureaucracy.

[00:12:08]Your conversation with someone could literally result in them discovering they're owed thousands of pounds.

[00:12:15]Let me also mention some red flags and scams to watch out for.

[00:12:19]Unfortunately, whenever there's news about people being owed money, scammers appear trying to take advantage.

[00:12:25]Be very wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue offering to help you claim state pension back pay for a fee.

[00:12:33]The process of checking your state pension and claiming any underpayment is completely free. You don't need to pay anyone to do this for you.

[00:12:41]Never give your bank details, national insurance number, or personal information to anyone who cold calls you about your pension.

[00:12:49]The Department for Work and Pensions will never call you unexpectedly asking for bank details or threatening to stop your pension if you don't provide information immediately.

[00:13:00]If you're unsure whether a contact is genuine, hang up and call the Pension Service directly on their official number. Don't use any number the caller gives you. Look it up independently on the official government website.

[00:13:13]Before we wrap up, let me summarize the key actions you need to take. If you were born before April 1960 and you're receiving the old state pension, you need to check whether your pension has been calculated correctly. Pay particular attention if you're a married woman whose husband has reached state pension age. If you're widowed, if you're divorced, or if you're over 80.

[00:13:34]Contact the Pension Service and ask for a detailed breakdown of how your pension has been calculated. Ask specific questions about whether any increases you're entitled to have been applied.

[00:13:46]If you discover an error, the Department for Work and Pensions will correct it and back pay what you're owed.

[00:13:52]Don't wait to be contacted. The government's review won't necessarily catch every case. Take responsibility for checking your own situation.

[00:14:01]The call is free, the process is straightforward, and the potential benefit could be substantial.

[00:14:07]Remember, this isn't just about a one-time back payment, significant though that might be. It's also about ensuring your ongoing pension is the correct amount, which means more money every single month for the rest of your life.

[00:14:20]Even an extra 20 or 30 pounds a week adds up to over a thousand pounds a year, every year.

[00:14:27]I hope this information has been helpful and has empowered you to take action.

[00:14:32]These state pension underpayments represent a significant injustice, but one that can be corrected if people know about the issue and check their own situations.

[00:14:43]If you found this video valuable, please do give it a thumbs up. It really helps other people find this important information.

[00:14:50]Share it with anyone you know who might be affected. Leave a comment below if you've been through this process or if you have questions I can help with. I read every comment and I'll do my best to respond.

[00:15:03]And if you haven't already, please subscribe to my channel UK Pensioner Hub. We are dedicated to bringing you clear, accurate information about everything related to pensions and retirement in the UK.

[00:15:16]We cut through the jargon, explain your rights, and help you make the most of your retirement income.

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[00:15:30]Thank you so much for watching. And remember, you worked hard for your pension. Make sure you're getting every penny you're entitled to.

[00:15:39]Until next time, take care.

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