DWP Paid 170 Million Pounds to Deceased Pensioners

The Department for Work and Pensions paid 170 million pounds in state pensions and pension credits to deceased individuals during the 2025-26 period. Nearly half of that sum remains unrecovered, with the agency writing off 16.5 million pounds and attempting to recover 67 million pounds.

Over the last five years, the agency paid 673 million pounds to dead pensioners, recovering 348 million pounds and writing off nearly 240 million pounds. Because grieving families are not legally obligated to return these funds, officials can only request repayments. Debts are written off if the cost of recovery exceeds the value of the debt.

Government ministers state these losses represent only 0.1% of the annual 150 billion pound pension spend. However, critics argue the figures reveal serious systemic weaknesses. The agency encourages the use of the Tell Us Once service to notify government agencies of deaths to prevent future overpayments.