DWP criticised as thousands of pensioners urged to check for extra £3,000
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Thousands of Brits have been urged to check their pension payments after a blunder by the Department for Work and Pension (DWP) left an ex-British Army soldier £3,000 a year out of pocket. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) issued the warning following the DWP's failure to inform 82 year old Adrian Furnival about crucial changes to his state pension.
It's feared that thousands of other pensioners may have been similarly affected, with those in comparable situations to the former soldier being advised to verify if they've lost out. The ombudsman highlighted this case as further proof - following the furore over pension alterations for WASPI women - of the DWP's poor communication skills.
The issue for Mr Furnival and his wife, Sheila, aged 67, arose from their move to Brittany in 1994 and the DWP's failure to provide them with necessary information. Besides his state pension, Mr Furnival was receiving Adult Dependency Increase (ADI) payments, a supplement given to households when the main earner reached state pension age but their partner did not.
The rules around ADI payments were altered in the 2007 Pension Act, with no new claims for the supplement accepted from 2010 and all payments ceasing by April 6, 2020. Those claiming the extra money were informed about the change in 2010. However, Mr Furnival wasn't notified until eight years later, in 2018, when he received an annual statement from the DWP informing him his payments would decrease by £250 a month. He s.
