HMRC letters, USA News (Cumbria, United Kingdom): Parents and carers across Cumbria are being urged to check whether they could be owed thousands of pounds after HM Revenue and Customs began sending a further 311,000 letters over historic State Pension errors. Successful claims have resulted in average arrears of around £8,000, with people who claimed Child Benefit before May 2000 among those who could be affected.
The letters are aimed at parents and carers who may be missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) from their National Insurance records, potentially leaving them with a lower State Pension than they should receive. HMRC states that 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.
The department notes that 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.
The average arrears payment has been around £8,000, although the amount an individual receives depends on their circumstances and whether they are eligible. Home Responsibilities Protection 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 National Insurance records. During this period, people claiming Child Benefit were not always required to provide their National Insurance number. HMRC explains that while HRP was automatically added to the records of people who supplied their NI number, some people who did not provide it may have missed out.
HRP reduced the number of qualifying years a person needed on their National Insurance record to receive a full basic State Pension. The scheme was replaced by National Insurance credits in 2010, meaning people who started claiming Child Benefit after that date will not be affected by this particular issue.
Previous Campaign and Research Findings
HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions have been contacting people who may be missing HRP for the past three years. The department reports it has already sent 340,000 letters inviting people to check whether they qualify. Following a successful trial of a revised letter, a further 311,000 are being sent out by next March. The latest letters will include the CF411 claim form, which recipients can complete with their personal details and return by post.
HMRC maintains that checking eligibility online remains the quickest option for people who can use the service. Claimants can use the GOV.UK eligibility tool to check whether they may be missing HRP and submit a claim online. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s chief customer officer, said that including the claim form in the letter increases the likelihood that people will fill it in, send it back, and find out quickly and easily whether their entitlement will increase on retirement or if they are owed a payout.
Research published by the Department for Work and Pensions in May 2025, based on work carried out by Verian, examined why some people did not respond to the earlier campaign. The research identified several possible reasons, including fears that letters could be scams, confusion about terminology, and uncertainty about eligibility. Elaine Walker, director of AskRose, noted that government research outlines why many people did not respond previously, including letters failing to arrive, lack of perceived personal relevance, and fear of scams.
HMRC encourages people who have retired or are approaching retirement to check their National Insurance records for gaps that could affect their State Pension entitlement. Not everyone who checks their record will be entitled to arrears, as the amount depends on individual National Insurance history and circumstances. HMRC also warns that individuals do not need to use third-party companies to check eligibility or submit applications, allowing them to avoid paying a firm a share of any arrears. Anyone needing help can contact the National Insurance Helpline or access support online.
