Women could be compensated for state-pension shortfall
A government inquiry has said that up to 200,000 women could be owed a collective £1.7bn in compensation, with the average woman being owed £13,500 in underpaid state pensions.

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.
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.
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.

David Prosser is a regular MoneyWeek columnist, writing on small business and entrepreneurship, as well as pensions and other forms of tax-efficient savings and investments. David has been a financial journalist for almost 30 years, specialising initially in personal finance, and then in broader business coverage. He has worked for national newspaper groups including The Financial Times, The Guardian and Observer, Express Newspapers and, most recently, The Independent, where he served for more than three years as business editor.
-
What is the 25x retirement rule and does it work?
The 25x retirement rule has been around for decades but many experts question if it is a suitable strategy
-
When is the self-assessment tax return deadline?
If you are self-employed, rent out a property or earn income from savings or investments, you may need to complete a self-assessment tax return. We run through the deadlines you need to know about
-
The most and least expensive countries to be an expat in 2025
With some Brits fleeing the country to avoid seemingly ever-increasing taxes, we look at the most and least expensive countries to emigrate to.
-
Why is Britain's industrial base crumbling?
Opinion More and more factories in the UK are closing, and the government doesn’t seem to care. What’s going on?
-
Scotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon leaves behind a toxic legacy
On the left, Nicola Sturgeon is seen as something of a political hero. That makes sense… but only if you exclude her actual record in office
-
Fifty years of investment fiascos – a few examples to learn from
A benign market backdrop over the past 50 years has not prevented recurrent routs, says Max King
-
How to use SAYE and SIP schemes to multiply your money
Employers’ savings or share-incentive plans like SAYE and SIP schemes can help top up your pension
-
Could state pension age rise to 70? Review launched
The government has launched a review of the state pension age, which will consider the “merits” of automatic increases tied to life expectancy
-
Just Group has the wind behind it – should you invest?
Just Group, a retirement products provider, is well placed to profit from a growing annuity market
-
Why strong currency is the key to upward mobility
Change your social status and your life by saving money in strong currencies, says Dominic Frisby