A BBC expert has revealed that parents and carers who took time out of work to raise children or care for sick relatives between 1978 and 2010 may be owed an average of £5,000 in backdated state pension payments. The issue stems from errors in the Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) scheme, which was designed to safeguard National Insurance contributions for those unable to work due to caring responsibilities.
HRP was available to people claiming Child Benefit for children under 16, or those receiving Income Support for caring for sick or disabled individuals. However, many eligible claimants did not have the credits properly added to their National Insurance records, leading to underpaid state pensions. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) launched a correction programme in 2023, estimating that £1.2 billion was owed to affected individuals.
Despite the government's expectation that 90% of eligible people would claim, only 8% had done so by March 2025, resulting in just £104 million in repayments. This leaves over £1.1 billion unclaimed. HMRC is now using National Insurance records to trace those who may have missed out and is sending letters to some individuals.
One case highlighted on BBC Morning Live involved a woman who spent 13 years at home with her child in the 1980s. Due to missing HRP credits, her pension was underpaid for 16 years. After claiming, she received a lump sum of over £35,500 and her weekly pension rose from £120 to £180. Money Box journalist Dan Whitworth described it as one of the most remarkable stories he has encountered.
To check eligibility, individuals can call HMRC on 0300 200 3500 or use the online eligibility checker. The scheme covers the period from April 1978 to April 2010, and those who claimed Child Benefit or certain caring benefits during that time may be entitled to back payments.
