Thousands of people, particularly women approaching or at State Pension age, may be missing out on vital State Pension payments due to gaps in their National Insurance (NI) records. As part of Pensions Awareness Week, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is encouraging individuals to check whether they are entitled to boost their State Pension.
The issue affects many parents who claimed Child Benefit before 2000, who may have gaps in their NI record due to missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP). HRP was designed to protect the State Pension entitlement of people who had caring responsibilities and claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and 2000. It was replaced by National Insurance credits in 2010.
If individuals claimed Child Benefit before May 2000 but did not include their National Insurance number on their claim, HRP may not have been applied to their records, potentially affecting their State Pension entitlement.
HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are now working together to identify those affected and encourage them to check their eligibility. People can claim missing HRP via the GOV.UK website or by post, with the process taking approximately 15 minutes to complete.
What You Need to Know:
- The State Pension is calculated based on your National Insurance record.
- Missing HRP doesn’t necessarily mean your State Pension calculation is wrong, but it could if you spent significant time out of the workforce due to family responsibilities.
- HMRC has already contacted 257,000 pensioners who may have HRP missing and will continue reaching out to those affected.
- If your record is missing HRP, updating it could boost your State Pension, and those already over State Pension age could receive arrears payments.
Who Needs to Act:
- Individuals who claimed child benefits between 1978 and 2000 believe there are gaps in their national insurance records.
- Anyone who has not yet received a letter but believes they may be affected can use the online checker to find out if they are eligible for HRP.
Exchequer Secretary James Murray said: “The State Pension is the foundation of support for people in retirement. We urge people to check their National Insurance records to ensure they receive the pension they are entitled to.”
Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds added: “I encourage anyone who thinks they are missing out to check their eligibility and apply for Home Responsibilities Protection. A few minutes today could make a significant difference to your retirement.”
People can check their National Insurance record online via the HMRC website or app. If you’re unsure or need assistance, contact the National Insurance helpline at 0300 200 3500 for support.
This initiative aims to ensure individuals receive the State Pension they deserve and provide a vital boost to those who may have unknowingly missed out due to gaps in their records.
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