Women in their 60s and 70s could be due £5,000 State Pension back payments before the end of next year. The Treasury recently confirmed that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) began contacting older individuals whose National Insurance (NI) records might be impacted by missing periods of Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) in September 2023.

They can then apply to fill potential gaps to ensure they receive the correct amount of State Pension.

Nigel Huddleston MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, also informed the Commons that HMRC is working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to identify those affected by this historic administration error over the next 18 months. This is to ensure that those eligible receive any arrears payments as swiftly as possible.

Approximately 210,000 older people – predominantly women – are due a share of underpayments totalling £1.3 billion, equivalent to around £5,000 each. The DWP has previously stated that those closest to the State Pension age in their 60’s and 70s are being issued letters first.

However, anyone who believes they may have been affected can check their eligibility online using the self-identification tool on GOV. UK, reports the Daily Record.

Mr Huddleston MP explained to MPs that the primary cause of the issue was that NI numbers were not always recorded when people claimed Child Benefit before 2000. The UK Government estimates that around 210,000 individuals may have been affected by missing periods of HRP between 1978 and 2000.

He explained that HRP was a scheme that ran between April 6, 1978 and April 5, 2010 and reduced the number of qualifying years of NI contributions a person with caring responsibilities needed to receive the full Basic State Pension.

He said: “The main cause of the issue was that NI numbers were not always recorded when customers claimed Child Benefit before 2000. The UK Government have estimated that around 210,000 individuals may have been affected by missing periods of HomeResponsibilities Protection.”

“HMRC and DWP are working together to correct cases as quickly as possible. HMRC started contacting potentially impacted customers from September 2023, prioritising those above State Pension age. They aim to identify and contact the majority of individuals who may have been affected over the next 18 months so that those eligible receive any arrears payments as quickly as possible.”

He continued: “To correct this issue, potentially impacted customers will be invited to check their eligibility and make an application to HMRC for Home Responsibilities Protection. To help individuals determine their eligibility, a self-identification tool is available on www.gov.uk.”

“Where an application is successful, those with a State Pension impact will have their award corrected and any arrears paid.”

He added that HMRC and DWP will also conduct a wider campaign to ensure that all those who may be eligible are aware of the correction exercise. Before submitting an application, individuals can gather more information about Home Responsibilities Protection, verify their eligibility and locate the application form online at gov.uk.