Thousands of people across the UK — especially women — may be owed money from the government due to historical errors in State Pension payments. A major correction exercise by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has uncovered over £104 million in underpaid State Pension, with an average payout of £8,377 per person.
If you’re over State Pension age or approaching it, you could be one of the 760,000 pensioners entitled to back payments. Here’s what’s happening and how to check if you’re affected.
Why Are State Pensions Being Corrected?
The problem stems from missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) records in National Insurance histories. HRP was introduced in 1978 to protect parents and carers’ entitlement to a full State Pension. If HRP is missing from your record, your State Pension amount may have been calculated too low.
The DWP and HMRC began a joint Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practice (LEAP) exercise in 2024 to fix this. Between January 2024 and March 2025, they identified 12,379 underpayments and processed £104 million in arrears.
Who Is Affected?
This correction mainly impacts women — especially those who:
- Claimed Child Benefit before 2000
- Cared for someone sick or disabled
- Were foster carers or kinship carers
- Missed out on HRP due to admin errors
HMRC has already sent out 370,000 letters, with more on the way. You may still be eligible even if you haven’t received a letter yet.
What Is Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP)?
HRP was used from 1978 to 2010 to protect State Pension entitlement for:
- Parents getting Child Benefit
- Carers supporting someone on disability benefits
- Foster carers and kinship carers (especially in Scotland)
- In 2010, HRP was replaced by National Insurance credits.
How to Check If You’re Owed Money
You can use the online HRP eligibility tool on the GOV.UK website to find out if you may be affected. You’ll need to know:
- If you had gaps in your National Insurance record
- Whether you were receiving benefits for caring or parenting between 1978 and 2010
- If you don’t know the answers, you can select “Do not know,” and the tool will guide you on what to do next.
Can You Still Apply for HRP?
Yes — you can still apply even if you’re over State Pension age. You may not receive full back pay for every year, but your State Pension will be corrected going forward.
- You may apply for HRP for a full tax year if you were:
- Getting Child Benefit for a child under 16
- Caring for a child while your partner claimed Child Benefit
- Receiving Income Support as a carer
- Caring for a sick or disabled person who got Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance
- A foster carer or kinship carer in Scotland (between 2003 and 2010)
Who Qualified Automatically for HRP?
- You likely received HRP automatically if:
- You received Child Benefit in your own name and gave your National Insurance number
- You received Income Support because you were caring and didn’t need to work
- After May 2000, including a National Insurance number became compulsory, so claims made after this date were not affected.
If You Were a Married Woman or Widow
- You cannot claim HRP for years you:
- Chose to pay reduced National Insurance (Class 1 – small stamp)
- Opted out of paying Class 2 contributions as a self-employed worker
How Long Will Corrections Take?
According to DWP, most eligible people will have their State Pension corrected by the end of 2025. So far, over 44,000 people over State Pension age and nearly 9,000 under pension age have already had their cases reviewed.
If you’re a woman who stayed at home to raise children or cared for others before 2010, you may have been underpaid your State Pension due to missing HRP. The DWP and HMRC are actively contacting affected people, but you don’t need to wait — you can use the HRP online tool today to check. With potential back payments of up to £8,377, it’s worth checking to ensure you’re getting everything you’re owed.
FAQs
What is the Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) correction exercise?
The HRP correction exercise is a joint effort by the DWP and HMRC to fix historical errors in National Insurance records that may have led to underpaid State Pensions, mainly affecting women who cared for children or disabled individuals between 1978 and 2010.
Who is most likely to be affected by missing HRP?
Women who received Child Benefit before May 2000, carers, foster parents, and those with gaps in their National Insurance record are most likely to be affected by missing HRP credits.
How much money could I be owed if underpaid?
So far, affected individuals have received an average back payment of £8,377. Actual amounts vary based on your personal record and missing credits.
How can I check if I’m owed money from a State Pension underpayment?
You can use the online HRP eligibility checker on GOV.UK. If you’re unsure about your National Insurance record, the tool will guide you on how to get this information.
Can I still apply for HRP even if I’ve reached State Pension age?
Yes, you can still apply. If HRP is added to your record, your State Pension may be corrected and you may receive back payments, even if you’re already retired.
