HMRC Sends 311,000 Letters to Correct State Pension Errors
HM Revenue and Customs is contacting 311,000 parents and carers to correct missing National Insurance credits that may increase their State Pension entitlements.
The HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is sending letters to 311,000 people who may be missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) from their National Insurance records. The error affects parents and carers who took time away from work between 1978 and 2010, specifically those who claimed Child Benefit before May 2000 without providing a National Insurance number.
Letters will be distributed through March 2027, with 215,000 recipients already above State Pension age. To increase response rates, HMRC is now enclosing CF411 claim forms in the letters. This change follows research by the Department for Work and Pensions showing that previous recipients often ignored government correspondence due to confusion over eligibility or fears of scams.
Correcting these records can significantly increase pension entitlements or result in arrears payments. Since September 2023, over 25,000 people have received a share of more than £100 million in arrears, with an average payment of £8,000. Some individuals could see a total impact exceeding £100,000 over the course of their retirement.
HMRC encourages eligible individuals to use the GOV.UK online tool or the National Insurance Helpline to claim for free. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Chief Customer Officer, stated that including the claim form in the letter should make it easier for people to find out if they are owed a payout.
