HMRC sends 311,000 letters over State Pension errors

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 06:09 · Archive

HMRC is sending 311,000 letters to parents and carers who may be owed an average of £8,000 due to historic State Pension errors.

HMRC is sending a further 311,000 letters to parents and carers in Cumbria over historic State Pension errors. The latest mailout will run until the end of March 2027, with 215,000 letters going to people who have already reached State Pension age. Successful claims have resulted in average arrears of around £8,000, although the amount an individual receives depends on their circumstances and whether they are eligible.

The letters are aimed at those who may be missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) from their National Insurance records. HRP was introduced to help protect the State Pension entitlement of parents and carers who took time away from paid employment to raise children or care for others. People who claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and May 2000 may be affected if HRP is missing from their records. During this period, people claiming Child Benefit were not always required to provide their National Insurance number.

HMRC says the letters will include a claim form for the first time, making it easier for people to apply for HRP without having to download or print the paperwork themselves. Official figures show that more than 25,000 people have had HRP added to their National Insurance records since HMRC began sending letters in September 2023. Nearly all were above State Pension age, and they have received a share of more than £100 million in pension arrears.

How it is being reported

• Thousands could be owed £8,000 as HMRC sends out 311,000 lettersThousands of people - mostly mums - are due money back from historic State Pension errors, as HMRC has sent out 311,000 letters to people who could be missing out.Whitehaven News · 31 Oct, 05:00
• Thousands could be owed £8,000 as HMRC sends out 311,000 lettersThousands of people - mostly mums - are due money back from historic State Pension errors, as HMRC has sent out 311,000 letters to people who could be missing out.Cumberland News · 31 Oct, 05:00
• Thousands could be owed £8,000 as HMRC sends out 311,000 lettersThousands of people - mostly mums - are due money back from historic State Pension errors, as HMRC has sent out 311,000 letters to people who could be missing out.NW Evening Mail · 31 Oct, 05:00
• Thousands could be owed £8,000 as HMRC sends out 311,000 lettersThousands of people - mostly mums - are due money back from historic State Pension errors, as HMRC has sent out 311,000 letters to people who could be missing out.Westmorland Gazette · 31 Oct, 05:00

In this story: HMRC · Cumbria

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