Thousands of people in the UK, especially women who stayed home to care for children, may have been underpaid their state pensions. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is trying to fix this issue. You could be owed up to £7,800 if your Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) records are missing.
Let’s break down what this means and how you can claim your money.
What Is Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP)?
Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was a program that helped protect your state pension if you couldn’t work because you were caring for children or sick family members between 1978 and 2010.
If your HRP wasn’t recorded properly, your pension might be lower than it should be. This mostly affects women who didn’t claim Child Benefit in their own name or whose records were not updated.
Only a Few People Have Been Paid So Far
The government set aside £1.1 billion to fix these pension errors. But so far, only about £104 million has been paid. That’s just a small part of what was promised.
The DWP sent out 370,000 letters to people who might be affected, but only around 12,000 people have received money. That means many are still waiting or don’t even know they qualify.
Why Aren’t More People Getting Help?
There are a few reasons why this process isn’t working well:
- Online-Only System: The process to claim is all online, but many older people don’t use the internet.
- Complicated Steps: You need to check if you’re eligible, then fill out a form called CF411 online.
- Confusing Letters: Some people thought the government letters were scams and threw them away.
- Lack of Awareness: Many people don’t know that not claiming Child Benefit properly years ago can affect their pension now.
How Much Money Could You Get?
If you are missing HRP in your records, you could be underpaid by an average of £7,800. Some people might even receive higher state pension payments in the future after their records are fixed.
Who Might Be Affected?
You might be eligible to get back money if:
- You got Child Benefit for a child under 16 between 1978 and 2010
- You cared for a child while your partner claimed Child Benefit
- You received Income Support for caring
- You looked after someone on disability benefits
- You were a foster or kinship carer (in Scotland)
If your National Insurance number was not used correctly when claiming Child Benefit, your HRP might be missing.
How to Check and Claim
To find out if you qualify:
- Visit the GOV.UK website
- Search for the CF411 form
- Fill it out online and send it
If you’re not comfortable using the internet, ask a family member or friend to help. You can also call the DWP’s helpline for support.
Financial expert Fleur Iannazzo says many people could be missing out on thousands of pounds. Even if you’re already getting the full pension, you may still be owed back payments.
Conclusion
Thousands of pensioners in the UK may be missing out on money they earned. The DWP is working to fix these mistakes, but progress is slow. If you stayed home to care for kids or family between 1978 and 2010, and your HRP wasn’t recorded, you could be owed up to £7,800. It’s important to check your records and apply for what’s yours.
If you’re unsure how, ask someone you trust or call the helpline. Don’t miss your chance to get the money and increase your future pension.
FAQ’s
1. Who qualifies for Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP)?
Anyone who cared for a child under 16 or a sick family member between 1978 and 2010, and didn’t work during that time, may have qualified for HRP—even if they didn’t know it.
2. How do I check if I was underpaid my state pension?
You can check your National Insurance record online at GOV.UK and fill out the CF411 form if you think your HRP is missing.
3. What should I do if I don’t have internet access?
You can ask a family member or friend to help you online, or contact the DWP helpline by phone to get support with checking and claiming.