Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure the accuracy of state pension payments.

Overall error within State Pension is low – the 2022/2023 Annual Report and Accounts show 0.01% overpayment and 0.6% underpayment.

A robust Quality Framework of both local and independent quality checking is in place to assure the accuracy of State Pension payments. Where error is identified proportionate action is taken through root cause analysis and focused improvement activities. Appropriate oversight and governance is provided by a Quality Governance Board.

Fraud and Error risks are further mitigated through the development and design of our online ‘Get your State Pension’ digital service.

In addition to robust quality checking and digital design, lessons learned from the State Pension LEAP exercise have resulted in new data matching rules to reduce the risk of further error entering the caseload and amendments to legacy IT systems reduce the likelihood of human error.