Overview

• The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reports 6% of state pension claims were underpaid last year, with back payments averaging £8,000 and some reaching £11,000.
• Eligible retirees can apply for missing Home Responsibilities Protection credits using the HMRC form CF411 to claim underpaid amounts.
• An estimated £100 million in Pension Credit goes unclaimed annually, equating to £700 per household, despite the benefit averaging £3,900 a year and unlocking additional support.
• State pensioners are entitled to nine benefits worth over £7,398 annually, including free prescriptions, council tax discounts, and social tariffs, yet many remain unaware of these entitlements.
• The over-80s pension top-up remains unchanged at 25p per week since 1971, prompting calls for an inflation-linked increase to better support older pensioners.