Around 210,000 pensioners in the UK may be entitled to significant back payments due to historical errors by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). These mistakes relate to the Home Responsibilities Protection scheme, which was in place from 1978 to 2010, aimed at safeguarding pension entitlements for those who reduced work hours to care for children or disabled relatives.
The average amount owed is reported to be £8,377 per person, contributing to a staggering total of over £800 million in underpayments. Many individuals may not even be aware of their eligibility, as HMRC has struggled to link National Insurance records with Child Benefit claims, particularly for applications submitted before 2000.
Personal finance expert Martin Lewis has urged affected individuals to take action, as the responsibility to check for potential underpayments now lies with them. The government previously initiated a letter campaign to inform pensioners, but the response rate was low, prompting concerns that many may miss out on owed funds.
Claimants must have been receiving their state pension for at least a year to qualify for a review. With the state pension age currently set at 66, this means applicants must be at least 67 years old. A free self-identification tool is available on GOV.UK to assist individuals in determining their eligibility for these back payments.
Source: GB News
