New figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveal that many older women may be due State Pension back payments due to historical errors linked to Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP). These mistakes have left thousands of pensioners with underpaid pensions, primarily caused by incomplete National Insurance (NI) records.
HRP Errors Continue to Affect Pension Payments
Home Responsibilities Protection, a scheme running between 1978 and 2010, was designed to protect the State Pension entitlement of parents and carers. It reduced the number of qualifying years needed to receive a full Basic State Pension for those who were out of work caring for children or disabled individuals. However, some eligible years were not correctly recorded, resulting in underpayments for certain individuals.
The latest DWP report shows that HRP-related issues now account for six in every ten underpayments due to contribution errors. Overall, State Pension underpayments remained steady at 0.3% (£390 million) in the year ending April 2026, slightly below the previous year’s £430 million.
Who Is Most Affected
The issue predominantly affects women who claimed Child Benefit before May 2000 and whose National Insurance numbers were not properly linked to their claims. Many of these women may have missed out on years of HRP credits, directly impacting their pension entitlements.
The DWP and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are addressing the issue through the Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practice (LEAP) correction exercise. More than 370,000 letters have been sent, mostly to women, urging them to check their State Pension payments for potential underpayments.
How to Check Eligibility and Apply
Eligible pensioners can check their State Pension forecast and National Insurance history via GOV.UK. Individuals may apply for HRP for full tax years between 1978 and 2010 if they were claiming Child Benefit, caring for a child with a partner, receiving Income Support as a carer, or were a foster or kinship carer in Scotland between 2003 and 2010.
Certain groups, including those already receiving Carer’s Allowance, automatically receive the relevant National Insurance credits and do not need to apply. For women who reached State Pension age after April 6, 2010, HRP credits were generally converted automatically up to a maximum of 22 qualifying years.
Looking Ahead
The DWP encourages anyone who suspects gaps in their National Insurance record to review their information and apply for any missing HRP years. Correcting these historical errors can increase ongoing pension payments and secure back payments, providing much-needed financial support for affected pensioners.
With State Pension spending rising to £146.1 billion in the year ending April 2026, these corrections are part of ongoing efforts to ensure accurate payments and fair treatment for all pensioners.
