Women claiming a state pension could get as much as £45,604 handed to them if they make a backdated claim for a little known pensions loophole which the government has promised to pay back for.

Thousands of women in the UK are thought to be eligible for being repaid money they should have had and could claim for tens of thousands of pounds as a result.

The exact circumstances are complex but it could be extremely lucrative.

Women who hit state pension age before April 2016, are on the zero…