Grandmother Reclaims £82,000 After Following Martin Lewis' Advice

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has revealed how his advice managed to help a grandmother reclaim a whopping £82,000.

Gill, 77, was inspired to check her pension after hearing Martin talk about people who had been underpaid state pension.

Her husband Robin sadly died in 2008 after being diagnosed with cancer, at which time Gill said she got a 'very basic state pension'.

What she didn't realise was that she also had a claim on Robin's pensions - but after seeing what Martin had to say, she wrote to the pension office and was told she'd been underpaid.

In fact, she was due no less than £82,100, having got in touch with the MSE team to express her thanks.

PA

Her email, which has been posted on the MSE website, said: "I watched your programme a few weeks ago about widows not receiving their correct pension.

"My husband died in 2008 and my pension did not change. I wrote to the Pension Service and today I was called as they'd checked my file. She told me I had been underpaid to the tune of just over £82,000! I am still in shock.

"Apparently they will transfer to my bank on Monday and it will take four working days to clear. THANK YOU, THANK YOU."

PA

Martin also shared her story on Thursday's episode of ITV's Martin Lewis Money Show, saying: "This is hundreds of thousands of women who could be missing out on thousands of pounds on the state pension."

The reason why people like Gill may be entitled to the cash is because married women who hit state pension age before April 2016 should get a minimum of 80 percent of their husband's state pension amount.

If they've been underpaid, they can also get it backdated based on when their husband turned 65.

If it was after March 2008 and you missed out, you can get it backdated all the way back to then.

"Married women who hit state pension age before April 2016 are a key group who may be owed, but others - including widows, divorcees and the over-80s, whether married or not - should also check," the MSE website says.

Find out more about the groups of people who should check their state pension entitlement, and how to reclaim money, here.

Topics: UK News, News, martin lewis, Money

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

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