Pension Credits Alert: Thousands of UK Parents Could Be Missing Out on Boost to State Pension
Thousands of parents across the UK could unknowingly be missing out on vital pension credits, sparking concern among households with children born between 1978 and 2010.
A recent alert from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has thrown the spotlight on possible errors linked to Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), a scheme that was meant to support those who took time out of paid work to care for children or dependents.
But now, it’s come to light that more than 100,000 people could have unrecorded National Insurance (NI) credits, resulting in reduced State Pension payouts.
This warning is particularly directed at parents of children currently aged between 15 and 47. Many of these individuals, especially women who stayed home during those crucial years, may have unknowingly lost out.
The issue stems from how HRP credits were applied. Designed to reduce the number of qualifying NI years needed for a full State Pension, HRP should have been automatically granted to those receiving Child Benefit.
But for a significant number of families, that didn’t happen, especially if the claimant’s NI number wasn’t listed on the application.
The consequences? Gaps in NI records. And that could mean a smaller pension in retirement.
“The Government’s priority is to ensure pensioners have security and dignity in retirement,” said Labour Party’s Minister for Pensions, Emma Reynolds.
“I strongly encourage anyone who thinks they are missing out to check their eligibility and apply for Home Responsibilities Protection taking just a few minutes out of your day now could mean a boost to your retirement.”
It’s simple. Check your National Insurance record. You can visit the GOV.UK website or call the National Insurance helpline at 0300 200 3500 to request a pension forecast.
If there are gaps where HRP credits should be, and you were eligible, you can reclaim them. HMRC will update your record, and DWP will reassess your pension amount. In some cases, it may increase. In others, you might even receive arrears.
There’s no need to apply if you’re already receiving a full basic State Pension or if the missing year is already counted as qualifying.
Worth noting, if you first claimed Child Benefit after May 2000, your NI number would have been required, meaning your credits were likely recorded correctly.
This isn’t about small change. A few years of missed credits could mean thousands lost over a lifetime. It’s a quiet error, but a costly one — and one many won’t realise until it’s too late.
If you, your partner, or someone you know cared for a child or dependent between 1978 and 2010, now’s the time to double-check.
Because when it comes to pension credits, a few minutes today could change your retirement tomorrow.
