New concerns have emerged regarding state pension errors affecting widows and widowers, as highlighted by former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb. He noted multiple cases where the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) failed to award inherited state pensions to individuals who were already widowed upon retirement, with some being incorrectly informed they were not entitled. Webb emphasized that these cases could represent a larger issue, potentially affecting thousands and costing them significant amounts in underpayments. The DWP has been conducting correction exercises since 2021, yet this new group of errors suggests ongoing problems with claim processing. An online tool has been launched to assist individuals in checking their entitlements amid these revelations. Critics, including Dennis Reed from Silver Voices, have called for urgent investigations into the DWP's handling of pension claims.