Thousands of pensioners across the UK could be entitled to an additional £150 due to a forgotten Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) policy that has not been updated for decades. Campaigners and pension experts argue that reviving this overlooked benefit could help vulnerable retirees struggling with the cost of living.
What Is the Forgotten Policy?
The policy in question involves the Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) — a National Insurance (NI) credit that was intended to safeguard the state pension rights of people (primarily women) who took time off work to raise children or care for family members between 1978 and 2010.
HRP credits were supposed to prevent these carers from losing state pension entitlement due to gaps in their National Insurance record. However, due to a combination of poor record-keeping and systemic administrative errors, many eligible individuals never received these credits.
As a result, tens of thousands of pensioners – particularly women – have been underpaid for decades.
How Much Money Is at Stake?
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already identified more than 130,000 cases of underpayment, totaling over £800 million. Some pensioners are missing out on more than £5,000 each in state pension payments.
A £150-per-year increase is estimated to be the minimum owed to some affected pensioners. For others, the amount could be significantly higher depending on their contribution history and length of caregiving.
In the worst cases, people have missed out on thousands of pounds simply because their NI record didn’t reflect their unpaid care work.
What’s Being Done?
The DWP began a correction exercise in January 2021 following widespread outcry. It involves manually checking records and correcting underpayments for eligible groups, such as:
- Married women who should have received an upgrade to 60% of their husband’s basic state pension (Category BL).
- Widows whose state pension wasn’t properly adjusted after their spouse’s death.
- Over-80s who qualified for Category D pensions but were not automatically upgraded.
According to official reports, around 878,000 cases will be reviewed, and the correction effort is expected to continue until late 2027.
So far, the government has repaid:
- £483 million to widows
- £253 million to Category BL pensioners
- £68 million to Category D pensioners
Who Is Affected the Most?
The majority of affected pensioners are women, many of whom worked part-time or took extended breaks from paid employment to raise children.
Between 1978 and 2010, eligible carers were supposed to receive HRP credits — but in many instances, these were never recorded. The credits were later replaced by National Insurance credits in 2010, which are automatically applied.
Those most at risk of having missed credits include:
- Women who claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and 2000
- Individuals who changed their surname or address and didn’t notify the DWP
- People who relied on paper records instead of digital filing
If their Child Benefit number was not linked to their NI record, the system often failed to apply the HRP credits.
What Can Pensioners Do Now?
Pensioners who suspect they may have missed out should check their National Insurance record and State Pension forecast.
You can access both online via:
If you believe there’s an error or missing credits, you can contact:
- The Pension Service
- Or call: 0800 731 0469 (for those in the UK)
Those who received Child Benefit before 2000 are especially encouraged to double-check their eligibility.
Winter Fuel Payment Reform Adds Pressure
This underpayment scandal comes amid growing scrutiny of other pension-related benefits.
In a controversial move, the UK government has means-tested the Winter Fuel Payment, removing eligibility for around 10 million pensioners. Previously universal, this change is part of a broader plan to address the UK’s £22 billion deficit.
Meanwhile, Scotland has introduced its own version the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) providing between £200 and £300 to eligible households.
Final Thoughts
As the DWP continues its correction exercise, thousands of pensioners may finally receive the money they’ve been owed for years. However, the issue also highlights the need for better record-keeping, digital integration, and proactive outreach by the government.
If the forgotten HRP policy is fully addressed, many older citizens could see an annual pension increase of at least £150 a small but significant boost during a time of rising living costs.
