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

This issue mainly affects parents, particularly women, who claimed Child Benefit before 2000. During that period, Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was introduced to reduce the number of NI qualifying years required to receive the full basic State Pension. However, if you didn’t provide your NI number when claiming Child Benefit, your record may not show the HRP you were eligible for, potentially reducing your current State Pension.

Who should check?

If you claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and 2000, it’s worth checking whether HRP was correctly applied to your NI record, particularly if you took time off work to raise children. While HMRC is contacting those affected, you don’t have to wait for a letter—you can check your NI record online or via the HMRC app.

If any gaps are found and you successfully claim HRP, your NI record will be updated, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will recalculate your State Pension. This could lead to higher pension payments or even backdated payments in some cases.

How to check and claim

It takes around 15 minutes to check your NI record on GOV.UK. If any gaps are discovered, 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 the missing year is already classed as a qualifying year.

Why this matters

For those nearing or already at State Pension age, these missing years could impact retirement income. Taking a few minutes now to check your records could help ensure you receive the full pension you’re entitled to.

If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to help you make sure you don’t miss out on what’s rightfully yours!

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/check-youre-not-missing-state-pension-payments