Those who claimed Child Benefit or Income Support may be eligible to receive extra cash on their State Pension
Large numbers of parents and carers could be missing out on State Pension payments they may be entitled to due to gaps in their National Insurance records. Women at or approaching State Pension age should look for any gaps in their National Insurance record – and can top up their State Pension at no cost.
Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was applied to the National Insurance (NI) records of those who claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and 2000, protecting their State Pension. Furthermore, HRP was automatically handed out to those who were claiming Income Support because they were looking ader a sick or disabled person and, as a result, were unable to work.
This reduced the number of qualifying years a person with caring responsibilities needed to receive the full Basic State Pension. HRP was replaced by National Insurance credits in 2010.
However, if someone claimed Child Benefit before May 2000 and did not provide their NI Number on their claim, HRP may not have been applied and their State Pension entitlement could have been affected. This can still be rectified today, however, and the Telegraph estimates that hundreds of thousands of people could be owed money.
Some people may have already received a letter from HMRC, informing them that they could have HRP missing from their NI record. Individuals who notice a shortfall in their National Insurance (NI) contributions due to Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) should be aware that it can influence their State Pension estimate, particularly for those who took time out of work for family care duties.
Success in claiming HRP will result in HMRC updating the individual’s NI record. This, in turn, prompts the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to reassess their State Pension eligibility. Following the reassessment, the person’s State Pension might increase or stay the same, depending on their specific circumstances.
In some instances, individuals past the State Pension age may also get backdated payments covering previous years. To determine eligibility and to file a claim, they can head over to GOV.UK, which typically takes about 15 minutes, or alternatively, they can submit their application by post with form CF411.
HMRC has explained that individuals don’t have to wait to receive a letter to make a claim. They can check their National Insurance record online or through the free and secure HMRC app.
There is no requirement to apply for HRP if the missing year is already included in your State Pension calculation or if you’re past State Pension age and receiving the full Basic State Pension amount. If you claimed Child Benefit post-May 2000, this won’t concern you, as providing a National Insurance number on the Child Benefit claim form was compulsory for parents.
