Ulster Unionist MLA Rosemary Barton has said that the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) should inject urgency into resolving the underpayment to pensioners that had gone on for years.

Mrs. Barton said: “The DWP estimates it has underpaid 134,000 pensioners, mostly women, more than £1bn of their state pension entitlement, with some errors dating as far back as 1985.

“The long-term underpayment of state pensioners – an unknown number of whom will have died without receiving what they were owed – is disgraceful, and requires urgent resolution.

“Many people who were owed money from this process have since died. There doesn’t appear to be any provision as to how to deal with this situation for the families of loved ones that have passed away and were underpaid.”

The DWP are identifying customers who have been underpaid their State Pension in accordance with the law.

If the DWP identifies that you have been underpaid, it will let you know of the changes to your State Pension and any arrears due.

If you believe you may have been underpaid, you can contact the Pension Service at 0800 731 0469, or use the Textphone service at 0800 731 0464.