If you took time out of work to raise children or care for someone between 1978 and 2010, you might be owed a sizeable pension boost and you may not even know it.
It’s all down to something called Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP). It was designed to protect parents and carers by reducing the number of National Insurance years needed for a full State Pension.
But here’s the problem: in many cases those credits weren’t added correctly. That’s led to underpayments – sometimes in the tens of thousands of pounds.
👉 The Department for Work & Pensions set aside £1.2 billion to fix this.
👉 So far, only £104 million has been claimed.
👉 The average repayment is around £8,000, though some people have received much more.
Who might be affected?
You could be eligible if you:
• Claimed Child Benefit before 2010,
• Were the main carer while your partner claimed Child Benefit, or
• Cared for someone who was sick or disabled.
How to check It’s straightforward:
📞 Call HMRC on 0300 200 3500, or Use the Government’s official tool here:
Check if you’re eligible for HRP credits (https://lnkd.in/eCvbRXUJ )
If you are owed money, you’ll receive a backdated lump sum and a higher weekly pension going forward.
💡 Sometimes good advice isn’t just about saving tax – it’s about making sure you don’t leave money on the table.