Thousands missing state pension boost, says HMRC

More than 257,000 people in the UK, including thousands in Northern Ireland, may be missing out on a boost to their state pensions. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has contacted these individuals to alert them about potential gaps in their National Insurance (NI) records that could affect their pension entitlements. The issue mainly involves Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) that was applied to the NI records of those who claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and 2000. HRP reduced the number of qualifying years needed for a full basic State Pension for people with caring responsibilities. In 2010, HRP was replaced by National Insurance credits. A problem arises if Child Benefit claims were made before May 2000 but did not include the claimant’s NI number. This could have led to HRP not being applied to their record.

Check for gaps in NI records

HMRC is urging affected individuals, primarily women who are at or near State Pension age, to check for any gaps in their NI records. They can correct these gaps and potentially top up their State Pensions at no cost. James Murray, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, stressed the importance of the State Pension. “The State Pension is the foundation of state support for people in retirement. We are urging people to check their National Insurance records to make sure they will receive the pension they deserve,” he said. While HMRC has sent letters to the affected individuals, they do not need to wait for this notification to take action. An online eligibility checker is available, and people can also use the free and secure HMRC app to verify their records. To access the online checker and for more information, visit the HMRC website.