State pension warning as HMRC writes to over 370,000 Britons over missing payments
Thousands of pensioners are still receiving less State Pension than they are entitled to because of historic government errors, with underpayments reaching £390million in the year to April 2026.The mistakes have largely affected parents and carers whose National Insurance records were not updated correctly, leaving many with lower State Pension payments for years.According to the Department for Work and Pensions' latest Fraud and Error in the Benefit System report, errors involving Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) account for around £6 in every £10 underpayments caused by National Insurance contribution record mistakes.Women have been hit hardest, particularly those who claimed Child Benefit before May 2000 but whose National Insurance number was not correctly linked to their claim.The DWP said: "Some people have not had all eligible years of HRP recorded on their National Insurance records and so have an incomplete record affecting their State Pension entitlement."The DWP and HM Revenue and Customs are continuing a correction exercise to identify those affected, amend their National Insurance records and pay any State Pension they are owed, including increases to future payments.HMRC has already sent more than 370,000 letters, mainly to women, urging recipients to check whether they have been underpaid and could be entitled to back payments.HMRC is reviewing National Insurance records to identify as many people as possible who may have missed out on Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) between 1978 and 2010.The correction programme aims to find those whose HRP was never recorded properly, leaving them with lower State Pension payments than they were entitled to.Despite the ongoing review, the DWP's latest figures show that around five in every 100 State Pension claims were still underpaid during the financial year ending April 2026.HRP was designed to protect the State Pension entitlement of people who took time out of work to raise children or care for someone with a disability. It reduced the number of qualifying National Insurance years needed to receive a full Basic State Pension.However, not all eligible periods were recorded correctly, leaving gaps in some people's National Insurance records and reducing their State Pension entitlement.The issue has particularly affected women who claimed Child Benefit before May 2000, when National Insurance numbers were not always linked to Child Benefit claims.Most people received HRP automatically if they claimed Child Benefit in their own name for a child under 16 and provided their National Insurance number. People receiving Income Support because they were caring for someone who was sick or disabled also qualified automatically.Those receiving Carer's Allowance did not need to apply separately because they automatically received National Insurance credits instead.Some people may also have missed out if their partner claimed Child Benefit on behalf of the family. In certain cases, HRP can be transferred for qualifying years between April 1978 and April 2010 if the partner who received the credits does not need them.Anyone who believes they may have missing HRP can check their National Insurance record and State Pension forecast through GOV.UK.People may be able to apply for HRP covering full tax years between 1978 and 2010 if they claimed Child Benefit for a child under 16, cared for a child while their partner claimed Child Benefit, received Income Support while caring for someone who was sick or disabled, or cared for someone receiving certain qualifying benefits.Foster carers and those who looked after a friend or family member's child in Scotland between 2003 and 2010 may also qualify.For people who reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, any HRP built up before that date was automatically converted into National Insurance credits, up to a maximum of 22 qualifying years.Overall State Pension spending reached £146.1billion in the year to April 2026, up from £136.4billion the previous year, while National Insurance contribution errors accounted for around 0.1 per cent of total expenditure.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
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Thousands of pensioners are still receiving less State Pension than they are entitled to because of historic government errors, with underpayments reaching £390million in the year to April 2026.
The mistakes have largely affected parents and carers whose National Insurance records were not updated correctly, leaving many with lower State Pension payments for years.
According to the Department for Work and Pensions' latest Fraud and Error in the Benefit System report, errors involving Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) account for around £6 in every £10 underpayments caused by National Insurance contribution record mistakes.
Women have been hit hardest, particularly those who claimed Child Benefit before May 2000 but whose National Insurance number was not correctly linked to their claim.
The DWP said: "Some people have not had all eligible years of HRP recorded on their National Insurance records and so have an incomplete record affecting their State Pension entitlement."
The DWP and HM Revenue and Customs are continuing a correction exercise to identify those affected, amend their National Insurance records and pay any State Pension they are owed, including increases to future payments.
HMRC has already sent more than 370,000 letters, mainly to women, urging recipients to check whether they have been underpaid and could be entitled to back payments.
HMRC is reviewing National Insurance records to identify as many people as possible who may have missed out on Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) between 1978 and 2010.
The correction programme aims to find those whose HRP was never recorded properly, leaving them with lower State Pension payments than they were entitled to.
Despite the ongoing review, the DWP's latest figures show that around five in every 100 State Pension claims were still underpaid during the financial year ending April 2026.
HRP was designed to protect the State Pension entitlement of people who took time out of work to raise children or care for someone with a disability.
It reduced the number of qualifying National Insurance years needed to receive a full Basic State Pension.
However, not all eligible periods were recorded correctly, leaving gaps in some people's National Insurance records and reducing their State Pension entitlement.
The issue has particularly affected women who claimed Child Benefit before May 2000, when National Insurance numbers were not always linked to Child Benefit claims.
Most people received HRP automatically if they claimed Child Benefit in their own name for a child under 16 and provided their National Insurance number.
People receiving Income Support because they were caring for someone who was sick or disabled also qualified automatically.
Those receiving Carer's Allowance did not need to apply separately because they automatically received National Insurance credits instead.
Some people may also have missed out if their partner claimed Child Benefit on behalf of the family. In certain cases, HRP can be transferred for qualifying years between April 1978 and April 2010 if the partner who received the credits does not need them.
Anyone who believes they may have missing HRP can check their National Insurance record and State Pension forecast through GOV.UK.
People may be able to apply for HRP covering full tax years between 1978 and 2010 if they claimed Child Benefit for a child under 16, cared for a child while their partner claimed Child Benefit, received Income Support while caring for someone who was sick or disabled, or cared for someone receiving certain qualifying benefits.
Foster carers and those who looked after a friend or family member's child in Scotland between 2003 and 2010 may also qualify.
For people who reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, any HRP built up before that date was automatically converted into National Insurance credits, up to a maximum of 22 qualifying years.
Overall State Pension spending reached £146.1billion in the year to April 2026, up from £136.4billion the previous year, while National Insurance contribution errors accounted for around 0.1 per cent of total expenditure.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
