The UK government paused deleting pension records to fix past errors, especially for deceased people, after finding millions in owed benefits.

Concerns have grown that deleting state pension records could block efforts to correct past payment errors, especially for deceased individuals. Sir Steve Webb, a former pensions minister, urged the DWP to retain records indefinitely, warning millions of records from deaths between 2017 and 2020—potentially up to two million—could be erased if deletion resumes. The DWP paused deletions in 2021 to address underpayments affecting married women, widows, and those over 80, including errors tied to home responsibilities protection. Over 900,000 records have been reviewed, leading to more than £900 million in back payments. An estimated 43,000 of 194,000 affected individuals died without receiving owed benefits, totaling £127 million. The DWP has not resumed standard deletions and continues reviewing its policy, stressing its commitment to resolving errors.