Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) could be the key to unlocking significant backdated State Pension payments for many former carers and parents. This popular program spanned from 1978-2010. It was designed to support people — overwhelmingly women — who looked after children or other dependents, allowing them to accumulate their entitlement to State Pension.
Here’s how one viewer of the our new program One Morning Live found her incredible share. She was paid just over £35,500 in unpaid State Pension after showing that the years spent at home looking after her child were not fully counted. For this longtime 80s viewer, it was worth the 13-year wait at home. Their Child Benefit claim was important in order to qualify for HRP.
Prior to 2010, women only had to accumulate 39 years’ worth of qualifying National Insurance contributions. This was necessary in order to qualify for a full basic State Pension. For men this requirement was even higher at 44 years. Each year of HRP reduces the total contribution needed by one year. This effectively allows people to reduce their required contribution by up to 22 more years!
One One Morning Live viewer discovered her earnings were slashed from 39 years down to only 26 years. This policy change came about because she was eligible for HRP due to her Child Benefit declared on a child under the age of 16. This relief highlights the importance of proper record-keeping by authorities and the potential financial impact on those who may be unaware of their entitlements.
If you need to find out if you are eligible for HRP, contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on 0300 200 3500. You can read more by using the government’s online tool to see how it affects you. You’ll be able to fill out the entire application process online. Instead, print the CF411 form, complete it and return it to HMRC by mail.
Yet by March 2025, just 8% of eligible recipients had come forward to receive their benefits. This brought about a grand total of just £104 million in repayments. For the government’s part, the public sector is hoping that around 90 percent of eligible people will submit their claims. That still leaves more than £1.1 billion unclaimed. This significant sum highlights the importance of educating and engaging those who are eligible to take advantage of these opportunities.
In September 2025, the One Morning Live viewer who inspired her change was able to have her concerns addressed. She was paid out a lump sum of more than £35,500! On top of this, her weekly pension went from £120 to £180. This set aside came after 16 years of being underpaid due to lack of earned HRP credits. Above all, it serves as a dangerous warning for anyone to double-check their pension files.
