HMRC together with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have issued a press release urging tens of thousands of people to check if they are eligible to boost their State Pension utilising Home Responsibility Protection (HRP).
This HRP scheme has helped protect parents’ and carers’ State Pension. HRP reduces the number of qualifying years a person with caring responsibilities needed to receive, to secure a full basic State Pension. HRP was replaced by National Insurance credits in 2010.
Between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2010, most eligible individuals automatically received Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP). However, this did not apply in all cases, and it is still possible to apply for HRP if you believe it’s missing from your National Insurance (NI) record. During Pensions Awareness Week, HMRC is encouraging those affected—primarily women at or near State Pension age—to check their NI records for gaps and potentially increase their State Pension at no cost.
If HRP is missing from someone’s NI record, it does not necessarily mean that their State Pension calculation is wrong, but it could be, especially if they took significant time-out from employment to raise a family.
The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury said:
“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.”
If a claim is successful, HMRC will update the individual’s NI record, and the DWP will recalculate their State Pension entitlement. Depending on the individual’s situation, their State Pension entitlement may increase or stay the same.