Check whether you can boost your State Pension, says HMRC

Some parents who claimed Child Benefit before 2000 are missing out on the State Pension payments they are entitled to because of gaps in their National Insurance (NI) records.

HMRC is urging those affected, who are mainly women at or approaching State Pension age, to check for gaps in their record and top up their State Pension for free.

Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was applied to the NI records of those who claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and 2000 to protect their State Pension. It reduced the number of qualifying years a person with caring responsibilities needed to receive the full basic State Pension. It was replaced by NI 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.

HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are working to identify those people affected and encourage them to make a claim for HRP so their records can be amended.

Between 8 January 2024 and 30 September 2024, the exercise has identified 5,344 underpayments, and revealed total arrears of around £42 million.

The quickest way to claim missing HRP is online. However, you can also call the National Insurance Helpline on 0300 200 3500 for support.