Overview

• The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has processed only 12,379 cases of pension underpayments caused by missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) credits, far below the estimated 194,000 eligible individuals.
• A total of £104 million has been disbursed, representing just 10% of the £1.1 billion allocated to address this issue, with the average underpayment around £7,800 per person.
• The correction exercise has faced significant challenges, including low response rates due to scam concerns and a digital-first application process that many elderly recipients struggle to navigate.
• The HRP scheme, which ran from 1978 to 2010, was meant to protect carers’ pension rights but suffered from administrative gaps, primarily affecting women who took time out of work for caregiving responsibilities.
• Efforts to rectify the issue, including sending 370,000 letters, will continue through 2027/28, with next-of-kin claims available for deceased individuals who were affected.