DWP Pension Credit Case Review Campaign Begins as Pensioners Face New Checks

The Pension Credit case review campaign has begun, with the Department for Work and Pensions contacting selected pensioners to check whether they are receiving the correct amount of Pension Credit. Some people may be asked to provide additional evidence, including recent bank statements. However, the DWP has stressed that being selected for a case review does not mean a claimant has done anything wrong.

The checks form part of a wider government effort to reduce fraud and error across the benefits system and could affect Pension Credit recipients in London and elsewhere in Great Britain.

What Is the Pension Credit Case Review Campaign?

The Pension Credit Case Review programme is designed to check claims considered at risk of being incorrect.

The government has previously confirmed that Pension Credit Case Reviews would build on the Targeted Case Review system already used for Universal Credit.

The aim is to make sure the correct person receives the correct amount while identifying both claimant error and overpayments.

Reports indicate the government expects the programme to generate around £370 million in savings by April 2031.

Estimates reported by The Independent suggest roughly 95,000 to 100,000 claimants could ultimately have their Pension Credit reduced, although this is an estimate rather than a confirmed DWP figure for the total number affected.

Why Is DWP Reviewing Pension Credit Claims?

Pension Credit entitlement can change when a claimant’s financial or personal circumstances change.

Issues affecting entitlement can include changes to:

• Savings and investments
• Private or workplace pension income
• Other sources of income
• A partner’s circumstances
• Time spent outside Great Britain
• Household circumstances

DWP fraud-and-error statistics have prompted greater scrutiny of Pension Credit payments, with undeclared financial assets and periods spent abroad identified among important causes of incorrect payments.

Will Pensioners Have to Provide Bank Statements?

Some will.

The DWP has confirmed that selected customers may be asked for additional information as part of the review, with recent bank statements given as one example.

Not every Pension Credit claimant is necessarily going to receive the same request, and the department has not publicly provided a detailed formula showing exactly how every claimant is selected for review.

Anyone receiving a genuine review request should therefore read the correspondence carefully and provide the requested information within any deadline given.

Does a Pension Credit Review Mean DWP Suspects Fraud?

No.

This is one of the most important points for pensioners receiving a review notice.

The DWP has said that being selected for a review does not mean the claimant has done anything wrong. Reviews are intended to establish whether the information held by the department still reflects the claimant’s circumstances.

Where a change to an award is required, the claimant should be informed about the decision and the next steps.

How Much Is Pension Credit in 2026/27?

For the 2026/27 tax year, Pension Credit’s Standard Minimum Guarantee can bring weekly income up to:

Claimant	Weekly amount
Single pensioner	£238.00
Couple	£363.25

Additional amounts may be available for circumstances including severe disability or caring responsibilities.

This means receiving income above the basic headline figure does not automatically rule somebody out of Pension Credit, because entitlement depends on their wider circumstances.

Is This the Same as the Pension Credit Take-Up Campaign?

No. The two initiatives should not be confused.

The government has also run major campaigns encouraging eligible pensioners who are not claiming Pension Credit to apply.

The Pension Credit case review campaign, by contrast, concerns existing claims and checks whether current awards remain correct.

That distinction matters because the government is simultaneously trying to increase legitimate Pension Credit take-up while reducing incorrect payments.

What Should London Pensioners Do If DWP Contacts Them?

Londoners receiving Pension Credit should not assume that a review letter means their payments will automatically stop or be reduced.

They should check that the communication is genuine, read exactly what information has been requested and respond within the stated timeframe.

Keeping records of savings, pension income and major changes in circumstances can also make responding to a review easier.

The government says the wider objective of Pension Credit Case Reviews is to ensure claimants receive the right amount at the right time, rather than simply removing people from the benefit system.

For pensioners across London, the key message is therefore straightforward: a Pension Credit review is a check on entitlement, not an automatic accusation of fraud or notice that payments will end.