THOUSANDS of women are being urged to check their state pensions as new payments errors have been revealed.

Some women who paid the married woman's stamp – a reduced rate of national insurance – are not receiving the cash they were owed under the rules for the new pension system.

Around 10,000 women are estimated to be subject to the rule, but it is not clear how many of these are affected.

Last year, State Pension errors meant retirees were underpaid by more than £1billion in total – with each missing out on £8,900 on average.

Experts have warned that affected women could stand to miss out on thousands over the course of their retirement.

Pensions expert Steve Webb said he is still hearing from women who are receiving the wrong amount – almost three years after the error was first uncovered.

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He has urged the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to investigate a string of potential new cases.

Mr Webb, a former pensions minister, was told by a DWP official that checks would now be implemented after a "training issue" in processing state pension claims had been identified.

But the DWP later said a review was not taking place and it would not be rechecking new state pension cases.

He has now written to the current pensions minister Guy Opperman to ask if any checks on past state pensions claims are being made.

Mr Webb told the Sun: “We know that the DWP is making errors when assessing claims for the new state pension but it seems its is not checking for past errors. 

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What do I need to do now?

Women who paid the married woman’s stamp at any point in the 35 years up to retirement should check if they are getting the right amount.

They should contact the Pension Service to see if they are entitled to a higher pension.

The Pension Service can be reached using the gov.uk website or by calling 0800 731 0469.

If it's found that you are not getting the right amount then you should then start getting the right payments.

Mr Webb said: "Any woman who has already claimed her new state pension and been told she has zero or low entitlement should check with DWP that she is on the right amount.  

 "Ideally DWP would identify all the women affected and contact them, but until they do so we need to rely on individuals doing the checking themselves”.

Married woman's stamp explained

Married women were given the option to pay a reduced amount of National Insurance, something known as the married women's stamp.

Under the old state pension system, these women could claim some of their state pension based on their husband's contribution.

A concession under the new pension system introduced in 2016, allows these women to get payments based on this part of their old entitlement.

Around 10,000 women are likely to get this – but many may not know they are eligible.

For women who are still married it's worth 60% of the current maximum basic state pension amount – £82.45 per week, or around £4,287 a year.

For those divorced or widowed, it's worth the full amount: £137.60 a week, or £7,155 a year.

Were you underpaid?

Mr Webb says any woman who has already claimed her new state pension, and been told she has zero or low entitlement, should check with the DWP that she is on the right amount. 

You might still be owed money if:

• You're a woman and come under the new state pension (e.g. you wereborn after 5th April 1953)
• You were paid the ‘married woman’s stamp’ at some point in the 35 years before reaching pension age;
• You have been told you are entitled to zero pension or to a pension less than £85 per week which is the standard ‘married woman’s’ pension

How to seek a review

If you think might have been underpaid call The Pension Service (0800 731 7898) and ask for your state pension calculation to be reviewed.

If after this you are not satisfied that your payments are correct you can ask for a “mandatory reconsideration”, after which you will be told how to launch an appeal if you believe the calculations are still wrong. 

If you are divorced and want to make sure that you are getting the right amount of state pension, you can find out more by reading this MoneyHelper guide. 

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Information on the rules for widows can be found on the government website

There are also special rules for those aged 80 or over which can be found on gov.uk.

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