The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are facing mounting pressure over systemic errors that led to thousands of women being underpaid their state pensions. The issue stems from incorrect National Insurance (NI) records under the Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) scheme, which was designed to protect the pension rights of those who took time out of work for caregiving.
Who Is Affected?
Women who claimed Child Benefit before the year 2000 and did not provide their NI number are most likely to have been impacted. The HRP scheme, which ran from 1978 to 2010, was meant to safeguard pension entitlements for those who temporarily left employment to care for children or relatives. However, due to administrative failures, many were left with incomplete NI records, resulting in lower state pension payments.
How Much Could You Be Owed?
Estimates suggest that some individuals may be owed thousands of pounds in back payments. The exact amount depends on how many years of NI contributions were missed due to the error. The DWP has already identified over 100,000 cases where corrections are needed, with many more potentially affected.
What Should You Do?
If you believe you may have been underpaid, you can check your NI record online via the HMRC website. The government has also set up a dedicated helpline for those concerned about their pension entitlements. Experts advise affected individuals to act quickly, as claims may be subject to time limits.
Government Response
Both the DWP and HMRC have acknowledged the issue and are working to rectify the errors. A spokesperson stated: "We are committed to ensuring everyone receives the correct state pension entitlement and are actively reviewing cases to identify and correct any underpayments."
Campaigners, however, argue that more needs to be done to proactively contact those affected, particularly elderly women who may be unaware of the issue.
