DWP issues HMRC warning to all married women over State Pension back payments

In the coming months, thousands of women could receive correspondence from HM Revenue and Customs alerting them to potential gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record due to missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), which may have impacted their Basic or New State Pension entitlement. An estimated 210,000 women in their 60s and 70s might be eligible for a back payment and increased State Pension payments because of past oversights.

However, a former Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) employee has cautioned that claiming HRP online, while possible for those who suspect they've been affected, could negatively impact their finances if they are already receiving Pension Credit. The ex-DWP staffer, with over four decades of experience, told the Daily Record: "If you are in receipt of Pension Credit, any increase in State Pension may mean that you are no longer entitled to Pension Credit, so in some cases it might not be worth claiming HRP and getting the increased amount of State Pension."

The latest DWP figures suggest around £1.5 billion has been underpaid in State Pensions.

The former benefits expert also noted that the size of the back payment will vary depending on the NI contributions transferred from a spouse to the claimant's own State Pension, affecting married women and those in civil partnerships.

A former employee of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shed light on the complexities surrounding State Pension arrears and how they are affected by Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) years missing from National Insurance (NI) accounts. They explained: "Any arrears of State Pension as a result of missing HRP years from people's NI accounts, will need to be offset against State Pension paid