The UK Government has written to over 370,000 potentially affected customers who may be entitled to an increase in their State Pension due to missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), following a question raised in Parliament.
HRP was a scheme that ran in the UK between 1978 and 2010 to protect parents' and carers' State Pension entitlements by reducing the number of qualifying National Insurance years needed to get a full State Pension. Although it was replaced by National Insurance credits in 2010, people who think it might be missing from their records can still apply.
Parliamentary question on HRP
Gregory Campbell, Democratic Unionist Party MP for East Londonderry, asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions earlier this month: "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to encourage those entitled to an enhanced State Pension as a result of Home Responsibilities Protection to apply."
Last Wednesday, Torsten Bell, Parliamentary Secretary in HM Treasury, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Work and Pensions and Labour MP for Swansea West, responded: "The Government has taken significant steps to encourage people who may be entitled to an increase in their State Pension as a result of missing Home Responsibilities Protection to come forward. This has included writing to over 370,000 potentially affected customers, securing national and local media coverage, and working with organisations such as Age UK and Citizens Advice."
Who may be affected
Due to missing National Insurance numbers on older claims, in particular those made before May 2000, many people have gaps in their NI records and are underpaid on their State Pension as a result. Those affected can include people who claimed Child Benefit for a child under 16, those who were a partner of someone who claimed Child Benefit while they were the main carer, those who received Income Support as a carer, people who cared for a sick or disabled person receiving qualifying benefits and those who were an approved foster carer or Scottish kinship carer between 2003 and 2010.
How to claim
Bell added: "HM Revenue and Customs is continuing to contact potentially affected customers as part of its ongoing work to identify and support those who may be entitled to missing Home Responsibilities Protection. Following research and feedback from the earlier campaign, communications have been revised to make them clearer and more accessible."
"The Government is also improving GOV.UK guidance, promoting checks of National Insurance records, including relevant information in annual State Pension uprating letters, and working with external organisations to reach potentially eligible people. Anyone who believes they may have missing Home Responsibilities Protection can use the online eligibility checker and make a claim through GOV.UK."
People who want to check if they are entitled to redress can use the GOV.UK Home Responsibilities Protection Service. They can also call the National Insurance Helpline at 0300 200 3500. Claims can be submitted online or via postal form CF411 available through GOV.UK Apply for Home Responsibilities Protection.
