UK DWP adds £647 to older state pensions and probes £7,000 underpayments to women

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed that from April 2026 older state pensioners will receive an additional £646.88 per year under the Additional Pension scheme, raising the maximum weekly payment to £230.54. This uplift sits on top of the basic state pension, which has also risen to £184.90 per week.

Separately, the DWP is urging pensioners, particularly women, to check whether they are owed back payments of up to £7,000 due to a long‑standing underpayment error. Over 230,000 women—widows, divorcees and those whose entitlement depended on a husband’s National Insurance record—may have received less than they should have, with the Parliamentary Ombudsman launching an investigation. About 131,000 claimants have already been repaid, but many remain unaware of the issue.