What has DWP officially said?
In a written statement to Parliament on 14 May 2026 (HCWS21), the minister said: “Through recent Budgets, this Government has committed to deliver savings of £14.6bn up to the end of 2030/31. This will be delivered through a suite of measures, including periodic redeclaration reminding Universal Credit claimants of the requirement to confirm any change in circumstances, continuing to check accuracy of UC claims at risk of being incorrect through Targeted Case Reviews (TCR) and, building on the success of TCR, reviewing Pension Credit claims that are at risk of being incorrect through Pension Credit Case Review (PC CR).”1
The Treasury's Budget 2025 costing lists the measure as “DWP Fraud and Error: Improve accuracy in Pension Credit claims from April 2026”. It says: “This measure introduces reviews of Pension Credit claims that are at risk of being incorrect.” and “This measure will be effective from April 2026 to April 2029.”2
The costing estimates the effect on public finances below. Added up, the Treasury's costing estimates a total Exchequer impact of £370m from 2026-27 to 2030-31. This is an estimate, not a target for individual claims.2
The same costing says: “The value of underpayments that will be identified through the service is discounted.”2
| 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | 2030-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchequer impact | +0m | +15m | +85m | +135m | +75m | +60m |
What should I do if I get a letter?
1. Read it carefully and keep it.
2. Reply by the deadline in the letter, in the way the letter asks.
3. If you cannot meet the deadline, or you do not understand what it asks, call the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469 before the deadline. The number is on GOV.UK.3
4. Get free help if you want it (see below).
How do I know the letter is genuine?
If you are not sure a letter, call or message is from DWP, do not use the contact details in it. Call the Pension Service on the number on GOV.UK instead: 0800 731 0469.3
GOV.UK says: “Do not give out private information (such as bank details or passwords), reply to text messages, download attachments or click on any links in emails if you’re not sure they’re genuine.”5
Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and suspicious texts to 7726, which is free. If you have lost money in England or Wales, contact Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, report it to Police Scotland.5
Do I need to report changes anyway?
Yes. GOV.UK says: “You need to report changes to you and your partner’s personal and financial circumstances.”3
That includes moving home, starting or stopping living with a partner, starting or stopping work, going into hospital or a care home, people moving in or out, and leaving England, Scotland and Wales for any period. It also includes changes to housing costs, benefits anyone in your home gets, pensions, other income, and savings, investments or property.3
Call the Pension Service helpline on 0800 731 0469 (Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 731 0469), Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (except public holidays). You can also report by post, using the address on your Pension Credit letters.3
GOV.UK warns: “You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.”3
Could a review mean I get more?
GOV.UK says: “Some changes will increase the amount of Pension Credit you could get.”3
As the Treasury's costing above notes, the reviews are expected to find some people who have been paid too little, as well as some who have been paid too much.2
DWP's statement defines unfulfilled eligibility: “Unfulfilled Eligibility measures how much a customer could have been eligible for had they told us their correct circumstances.”1 No one can promise a review will mean more money, but it is worth checking what you are entitled to.
What if I disagree with a decision?
You can ask DWP to look at the decision again. This is called mandatory reconsideration, and it is free.4
GOV.UK says: “You usually need to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision. You can ask for it after one month if you have a good reason, for example if you’ve been in hospital or had a bereavement.”4
If the decision does not change, you can then appeal to an independent tribunal.6
Where can I get free help?
Age UK Advice Line: 0800 678 1602, 8am to 7pm, 365 days a year. Calls are free.7
Citizens Advice Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Calls are free.8
Citizens Advice Advicelink (Wales): 0800 702 2020, 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. Calls are free.10
Citizens Advice Scotland: 0800 028 1456, a free line that connects you to your local bureau; opening times vary by local bureau.11
Independent Age Helpline: 0800 319 6789, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm. Calls are free.9