Are you missing out on your full State Pension?

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has recently reminded people to check and make sure they are not missing out on valuable State Pension entitlements due to gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record.

The issue mainly affects parents, particularly women, who claimed Child Benefit before 2000. During that time, Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was designed to reduce the number of NI qualifying years needed to receive the full basic State Pension. However, if you didn’t provide your NI number when claiming Child Benefit, your record may not reflect the HRP you were entitled to, potentially lowering the State Pension you will now receive.

Who should check?

If you claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and 2000, it’s worth checking if HRP was properly applied to your NI record, especially if you took time off work to raise a family. Although HMRC is writing to those affected, you don’t need to wait for a letter—you can check your NI record online or through the HMRC app.

If gaps are identified and you successfully claim HRP, your NI record will be corrected, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will recalculate your State Pension. This could result in higher payments or, in some cases, back payments.

How to check and claim

It takes about 15 minutes to check your record on GOV.UK. If you find any gaps, you can submit a claim online or by post. There’s no need to apply if you already receive the full State Pension or if your missing year is already counted as a qualifying year.

Why this matters

For those nearing, or at, State Pension age, these missing years could make a difference in retirement income. Taking a few minutes to check your records now could help ensure you receive the full pension you’ve earned.

If you need any help, please feel free to contact our Tax Team who are based in our Taunton office and would be happy to help you. Don’t miss out on what’s rightfully yours!

For more information see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/check-youre-not-missing-state-pension-payments