The UK Government has recently introduced measures aimed at assisting older individuals in claiming backdated State Pension payments, following errors linked to historical Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP). These errors, which primarily affected National Insurance (NI) records, have resulted in incorrect State Pension calculations.
According to Dailyrecord, over £900 million has been allocated in arrears payments, highlighting the scale of the issue. While the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already paid out £104 million in arrears, many eligible pensioners have yet to claim their rightful amounts. The government is now working alongside HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to address these underpayments and ensure full compensation.
What Is Home Responsibilities Protection, and Why Is It Important?
Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was a crucial government scheme designed to protect the State Pension entitlement of parents and carers who took time off from paid work to look after children or family members.
Between 1978 and 2010, people who qualified for HRP were automatically credited with National Insurance contributions, ensuring they didn’t lose out on years of pension eligibility. HRP was phased out after 2010, replaced by National Insurance credits. Yet, due to errors during that period, many people’s records were incomplete, resulting in underpayments of State Pension.
According to the DWP, between 8 January 2024 and 31 March 2025, a joint correction exercise with HMRC will identify 12,379 underpayments of State Pension, particularly among women whose National Insurance records were incomplete due to missing HRP.
This is part of an ongoing effort to identify errors and rectify the pensions of those affected. For many, this represents a critical opportunity to claim what they are rightfully owed, as these payments could be substantial.
How to Claim Your Backdated State Pension Payments
For those who are eligible to receive backdated State Pension payments through HRP, the process is designed to be straightforward, though it’s not without its challenges. Treasury Minister James Murray clarified that if pensioners are unable to access their Personal Tax Account online, they can complete a paper application form (CF411), which is available on GOV.UK.
Alternatively, they can call the National Insurance helpline to request the form. This step is essential for ensuring that those without digital access aren’t excluded from the claims process, as the government is committed to supporting all pensioners, regardless of their ability to navigate online systems.
Despite these efforts, the DWP has found that many people still don’t claim the payments they are entitled to. Over 370,000 letters were sent, mostly to women, urging them to check their State Pension records and apply for HRP if they were eligible.
However, research from the DWP suggests that many recipients failed to respond to these letters. Barriers to claiming include confusion over the information provided, the belief that the communication might have been a scam, and a reliance on digital methods to submit claims.
Key Challenges and Eligibility Criteria for HRP
While the government’s measures to fix past errors are significant, the process can be complicated. The eligibility criteria for HRP can be intricate, especially for those who cared for children or sick relatives but didn’t claim Child Benefit. For example, if someone’s partner claimed Child Benefit instead of them, they may still be able to transfer HRP for qualifying years between April 1978 and April 2010.
However, this transfer is only possible for certain years, and if the claimant reached State Pension age before April 6, 2008, HRP cannot be transferred from a partner.
It’s also important to note that HRP was phased out in 2010, and for people who reached State Pension age on or after this date, HRP was automatically converted into National Insurance credits, up to a maximum of 22 qualifying years.
