The years you spent at home should count. Some were never recorded.
Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) protected the State Pension of parents and carers from 1978 to 2010. A recording problem means some people's protected years are missing.
the most years of HRP that can count towards the basic State Pension
What HRP was
Between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2010, if you weren't working, or weren't paying enough National Insurance, because you were bringing up children or caring for someone, HRP protected your State Pension.
It was given automatically to people paid Child Benefit for a child under 16. Carers could also qualify, and from April 2003 so could foster carers. From 2010 it was replaced by National Insurance credits for parents and carers.
Four dates that matter
Choose a date to see what changed.
Who could have qualified
Being a parent or carer doesn't automatically mean years are missing, but these are the groups to check.
Parents on Child Benefit
Paid Child Benefit for a child under 16 for a full tax year. Most missing HRP is here, especially where the first claim was before May 2000.
Carers
Caring for someone sick or disabled for at least 35 hours a week, usually with a link to a qualifying benefit.
Partners who shared care
Where Child Benefit was in your partner's name but you were the main carer, a transfer may be possible.
Foster carers
Approved foster carers from April 2003, who had to apply separately.
Why it went missing
Before May 2000, Child Benefit claim forms didn't always record the claimant's National Insurance number. Without it, HMRC couldn't link the protected years to your record.
HMRC has been writing to people it thinks are affected, but not everyone has had a letter. You don't need a letter to check or apply.
Will it make a difference to me?
Only if you have gaps in your National Insurance record in those years. If your record is already full, adding HRP won't change your pension. A check tells you before you do anything else.
Check your eligibilityDoing it yourself, step by step
This is exactly how a claim works, whether you do it yourself or we do it for you. Written for families helping a parent.
HRP questions
Plain answers to the things people worry about most.
Does a low State Pension mean I have been underpaid?
No. It can simply reflect your contribution record. A check finds out whether any years are actually missing.
Can men claim HRP?
Yes. It depends on your circumstances, not whether you are a man or a woman.
What if I have lost my old Child Benefit letters?
That is common. HMRC asks for your children's names and dates of birth and other details. Old letters help but aren't essential.
What if Child Benefit was in my partner's name?
A transfer may be possible if you were the main carer and certain conditions are met. It needs checking case by case.
Will adding HRP always mean more money?
No. If your National Insurance record was already full for those years, adding HRP won't change your pension. That is why we check first.
Can a claim be made for someone who has died?
Yes. The executor or next of kin can apply. Any back payment goes to the estate.
Could a higher pension affect Pension Credit or tax?
It can. A higher State Pension can reduce Pension Credit and may affect tax. We explain what it means for you before you go ahead.