The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) conducted an investigation
Thousands of people could be due money linked to their State Pension from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It comes after an investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
The PHSO investigation found that the DWP took eight years to inform a British ex-pat about a change to his State Pension that would leave him £3,000 a year worse off. They are urging the UK Government to make sure their communication with the public is “always fair, clear, and consistent”.
The DWP says: “If you lived abroad between 6 April 2010 and 5 April 2020 and feel adversely affected, due to when you first received notification on the removal of an ADI, you may be eligible for compensation.” The Ombudsman also said the DWP “failed to respond to his initial queries and complaints in a timely way.”
Adult Dependency Increases (ADIs) were extra amounts of money paid to state pensioners who had a dependent spouse below State Pension age. No new claims for ADI were allowed from 6 April 2010 and all payments stopped on 6 April 2020.
While the investigation found faults in the way those living aboard were communicated with about State Pension changes, The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman found no fault in the way DWP communicated with customers living in Great Britain.
The government department states: “If you feel you were adversely affected by the removal of an ADI, due to when you received notification after 6 April 2010 that it was going to end, then you may be eligible for compensation.”
The State Pension age is set to rise from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028. A further increase to 68 is expected to be introduced in the 2040s.
Eligibility
You may be entitled to a compensation payment if all the following apply:
- your ADI payments were stopped on 6 April 2020
- you were living outside Great Britain for any period of time from 6 April 2010 to 6 April 2020
- you are able to say how the timing of the notification about the removal of an ADI had an adverse impact on you
What you’ll need to do
Contact DWP and provide the following information:
- your National Insurance number
- the date you moved abroad
- address(es) you were living at between 6 April 2010 and 6 April 2020
- information about how you have been negatively affected by the timing of the notification
Full details on how to contact the Pension Service can be found on GOV.UK here.
