Case Study: How HRP Added £50 a Week to Margaret’s Pension
Sometimes the best way to understand the impact of Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) is to look at a real story. This case study follows Margaret, a mother and carer, who discovered she was missing HRP credits. With Evanshaw’s help, her State Pension increased by £50 per week — transforming her retirement.
Margaret’s Story Before HRP
Margaret left work in the early 1980s to care for her two children. Like many women at the time, she claimed Child Benefit but didn’t realise that HRP credits depended on her National Insurance (NI) number being correctly recorded. She assumed her pension would be protected.
Decades later, when she reached State Pension age, she was shocked to find her weekly pension was £50 lower than expected.
The Problem: Missing HRP Credits
When Margaret reviewed her NI record, she found several years of gaps between 1978 and 1990 — the years she had been at home caring. These missing years meant she did not qualify for a full State Pension.
Like thousands of others, her Child Benefit claim had not been linked to her NI record because the system at the time did not always capture women’s NI numbers.
How Evanshaw Helped
Margaret contacted Evanshaw after hearing about HRP claims in the media. Our team immediately:
- Requested her full NI record from HMRC.
- Checked her eligibility for HRP credits.
- Gathered supporting evidence, including Child Benefit award letters.
- Completed and submitted the necessary forms to HMRC.
By managing the entire process, we removed the stress and delays Margaret had faced trying to resolve it herself.
The Outcome
Within six months, HMRC confirmed Margaret’s HRP credits were restored. The results were life-changing:
- £50 extra per week added to her ongoing pension.
- £7,000 in backdated arrears paid directly into her account.
For Margaret, this meant she could afford heating, food, and a little extra for her grandchildren.
Why Margaret’s Story Matters
Margaret’s case is not unique. Thousands of parents and carers, mostly women, are missing HRP credits from their records. Each of them could be losing hundreds or even thousands of pounds every year in retirement income.
Her story highlights the importance of checking your record and making a claim if credits are missing.
Could This Be You?
If you cared for children or relatives between 1978 and 2010, you could be in the same position Margaret was. Don’t wait until it’s too late — every year of HRP can make a huge difference to your pension.
Check Your Eligibility Today
Margaret’s story shows the difference HRP can make. With Evanshaw’s help, she secured the pension she deserved. If you think you may have missing HRP credits, we can help you too.
👉 [Check Your Eligibility Now](https://evanshaw.co.uk/carer/check-now/)