Politics · United Kingdom · 1 day ago
More than 300,000 people may be owed state pension payments
The DWP is writing to about 311,000 people who may have been underpaid their state pension.
The issue concerns people whose National Insurance records may be missing Home Responsibilities Protection, a scheme that covered contributions while people were away from work caring for someone.
It ran from April 1978 to April 2010 and was replaced by National Insurance credits.
Missing HRP can mean a higher pension and back payments for people whose entitlement was affected.
The DWP and HMRC wrote to 340,000 people in 2023 and 2024, and are now sending a second round of letters to some of that group.
More than 25,000 people have had HRP added to their records, and over £100 million in back payments has been issued.
People who may be affected can check their records using the pension checker on the government website; claims made from May 2000 required a National Insurance number, so those claimants are not affected.
The Department for Work and Pensions is contacting more than 300,000 people who may have been underpaid state pension because Home Responsibilities Protection is missing from their National Insurance records.
Those affected may be entitled to a back payment and an increase in their state pension.
The department and HMRC wrote to 340,000 people in 2023/2024 and are now sending a second letter to about 311,000 people from the same group.
More than 25,000 people have had Home Responsibilities Protection added to their records, and over £100 million in back payments has been issued.
Home Responsibilities Protection covered some periods when people were out of work caring for someone, from 1978 until it was replaced by National Insurance credits in 2010.
- Who
- The Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC are contacting people who may have been affected by missing Home Responsibilities Protection.
- What
- Some people may be owed state pension back payments and an increase to their entitlement.
- When
- A second round of letters is being sent after an earlier round in 2023/2024.
- Where
- United Kingdom.
- Why
- Missing Home Responsibilities Protection on National Insurance records may have led to state pension underpayments.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Home Responsibilities Protection covered some periods when people were out of work caring for someone.
The DWP and HMRC wrote to 340,000 people who may have been affected.
The DWP and HMRC are sending another letter to about 311,000 people from the same group.
- Potentially affected people
- More than 300,000
- Second-round letters
- About 311,000 people
- Letters sent in 2023/2024
- 340,000
- Records corrected
- More than 25,000
- Back payments issued
- Over £100 million
- HRP period
- April 6, 1978 to April 5, 2010
What people are saying
The amount someone could receive will depend on how many years of Home Responsibilities Protection are missing from their National Insurance record and how this has affected their state pension entitlement.
While the exact amount will vary, even a small weekly uplift can make a meaningful difference to someone’s retirement income over time.
For most people, the state pension is a vital source of retirement income, so even a small underpayment can make a real difference over time.
State pension entitlement can be complex, so it is always worth checking your record, however confident you are about your personal finances.