Number of pensioners hurt by DWP legacy system error actually 165,000

The UK's government has upped its estimate of the number of people hit by a state pension underpayment related to errors caused by a complex mesh of legacy systems dating back to the 1980s. In its annual report for 2022-23 [PDF], the Department for Work and Pensions said 165,000 pensioners were underpaid a total of £1.17 …

[Natalie Gritpants Jr]

Sounds like every government run computer system has had so much shit shovelled into the spec by politicians and lobbyists that no-one wanted to build it, and now even fewer people want to maintain it. Maybe that's what I'll do when I no longer understand what the clever kids are asking for and just want a quiet life buggering up Cobol.

[Caver_Dave]

Why are the operatives consulting 3 legacy systems?

Surely the modern one could screen scrape the information it requires from the other 3 without having to change the legacy code at all? (i.e. no risk to the legacy systems.)

[abend0c4]

Someone would have to write the code. And test the code. And maintain the code.

All of which would be rejected on "value for money" grounds as it would be a temporary solution. Which, of course, is why the legacy systems weren't upgraded in the first place. And yet are still here.

While most of those systems are likely to be using decimal arithmetic, I'd be a bit concerned that 65,000 number didn't come from another legacy 16-bit system.

[Anonymous Coward]

Nice to see Fujitsu involved

After their involvement with the Horizon disgrace, it's maybe not a surprise, even if they bought in.

[gandalfcn]

My recent dealings with the DWP were problematic due to incompetence, dishonesty and pure bloody mindedness. One has to wonder if thatis due to poor morale or crap management.

[X5-332960073452]

Yes

[Securitymoose]

So who gets the money?

Pensioners back in the 1980s are unlikely to still be alive to get their missing millions. A cunning plan eh?

They can send me a cheque for my granddad's underpayment - Third Washbasin Along, King's Cross Station, Alabama (you ain't seen me, roit?)