HRP in the Headlines: How Media, TV and Government Shaped the Story (2022–2025)

Media and public attention have been crucial in uncovering and addressing the Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) State Pension shortfall. HRP was intended to protect parents (mostly mothers) who took time out of work to raise children, ensuring they didn’t miss out on State Pension credits. However, administrative errors left many eligible women without these credits on their National Insurance records, resulting in lower pensions decades later. For affected pensioners — often in their 60s, 70s, or older — media coverage has shone a light on the issue, pressured the government to respond, and informed families how to claim what they’re owed. This timeline details how the HRP shortfall story emerged in UK media from the earliest reports to today, including key articles, TV segments, government responses, and the impact on pensioners. It illustrates why public scrutiny matters and how it has prompted action, while also guiding those affected on next steps (including how Evanshaw can help).

Useful explainers: GOV.UK: HRP overview |

Rest Less: What is HRP?

The HRP shortfall first hit headlines in late summer 2022. Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb and consultancy LCP launched a “Mothers Missing Millions” campaign to raise awareness that tens of thousands of mothers were missing State Pension credits for time at home with children. On 1 September 2022, press outlets ran stories explaining the problem. The Independent reported that mothers were being encouraged to check whether they may be entitled to additional cash due to missing HRP credits on their National Insurance records. Webb warned that the error overwhelmingly affects women and urged anyone who received Child Benefit between 1978 and 2010 to check their NI record for HRP credits. The MoneySavingExpert site the same day detailed how to check and claim, noting that a similar correction in 2011 had paid out tens of millions — foreshadowing that the scale could be larger this time. These early reports, amplified by consumer finance journalists, put the HRP issue on the public agenda and provided practical steps (like filling form CF411) for those who suspected they were affected.

Further reading: Actuarial Post: Mothers Missing Millions | MSE HRP guide

Notably, the media revelations in 2022 followed the government’s own quiet admission of the problem. In July 2022, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Annual Report first identified missing HRP credits as a major source of State Pension error, second only to the already-known underpayments to married women and widows. This admission came after DWP’s fraud and error exercise uncovered cases where parents (mostly mothers) who should have had HRP were not credited. DWP indicated it was working with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to assess the scale but didn’t yet have figures. In response to media queries, a government spokesperson confirmed they were investigating an issue with the historical recording of HRP, with work under way to identify those affected.

Context: DWP/NAO: Underpayments collection

The HRP pension issue became front-page news in summer 2023, as audit reports and journalists revealed the underpayments could total around £1 billion for nearly 200,000 mothers. In July 2023, the National Audit Office (NAO) highlighted the HRP shortfall in its report on DWP’s accounts. Suddenly, hard numbers hit the press. The government admitted that around 187,000 people (mostly mothers) might be owed a total of roughly £1 billion in State Pension due to this historic blunder. Major outlets seized on the story, reporting “historic errors” affecting nearly 200k retirees with an average £5,000 underpaid — and noting the shock that tens of thousands had already died without seeing a penny. It also emerged that an earlier fix in 2008–2011 had paid £85 million to 36,000 women after an audit, but further investigation revealed thousands more were affected and the amount owed was far larger than initially thought. Broadcast media, including BBC Radio 4’s Money Box, explained that women who took childcare career breaks between 1978 and 2010 were missing credits due to outdated systems and poor record-keeping. The NAO’s finding that correcting HRP would be inherently challenging gave the story official weight, and media outlets emphasised the staggering scale and urgency. Public reaction was one of outrage and concern, with many only learning of the issue through these reports.

Source examples:

Guardian coverage (6 Jul 2023)

NAO/DWP reports index

Throughout mid-2023, media coverage kept pressure on the government. Pensions experts were frequently quoted, underscoring the human impact. Helen Morrissey of Hargreaves Lansdown said the scale of State Pension underpayments is “staggering” and has caused “unnecessary financial distress”, and that identifying HRP claimants as another affected group was “disappointing”. She warned the correction would be a long process and that missing records could mean some women continue to be overlooked. Sir Steve Webb commended that action was being taken but criticised the pace, urging faster progress given many women are elderly and that action should have been taken with much greater urgency. Consumer outlets like Which? provided practical checklists on who may be affected and how to check NI records for HRP gaps.

Further reading: Which? pensions hub

By autumn 2023, media reports evolved from diagnosing the problem to tracking the response. Under mounting pressure, HMRC and DWP launched a formal correction exercise. From late 2023, HMRC began sending letters to hundreds of thousands of parents (primarily women) who might have missing HRP on their NI record. The letters invited recipients to use a new online portal to check and claim credits. Media served a public-service role: MoneySavingExpert warned “don’t bin the letter” and explained how to verify authenticity to avoid scams. TV programmes, including BBC daytime and ITV’s consumer segments, encouraged families to help older relatives respond.

Examples: MSE: Don’t bin the letter |

Rest Less overview

By early 2024, scrutiny turned to progress and problems. DWP’s 2023–24 accounts suggested only a tiny fraction of the estimated cases had been fully corrected, prompting experts like Steve Webb to describe the pace as “a snail’s pace”. Human-interest pieces highlighted successful arrears payments and pension uplifts following HRP corrections, encouraging others to act despite bureaucracy.

Round-ups:

Which? coverage stream

News programmes and consumer shows featured women in their 60s–80s discovering they’d been short-changed. Harriet Meyer (Rest Less) noted thousands had started to receive letters and emphasised an average amount owed of around £5,000, urging readers not to ignore official contact. Coverage also highlighted that tens of thousands had died before seeing any money, spurring families to claim on their behalf.

Coverage: Rest Less report

During Pensions Awareness Week, HMRC/DWP issued a national call-to-action: “Check you’re not missing State Pension payments”. Ministers urged people to check NI records and apply online, noted that hundreds of thousands of letters had already been sent, and stressed there was no deadline to apply. This mirrored what consumer champions had been saying, but now in the government’s voice.

Press notice: GOV.UK (12 Sep 2024)

DWP and HMRC published the first joint progress update on the correction exercise. By 30 September 2024, 370,000 letters had been sent and about 52,000 applications received, but only around 12,300 cases had been processed and resulted in State Pension corrections. Approximately £104 million in arrears had been paid (averaging just over £8,000 per corrected case). Coverage noted the shift to a standing, open-ended exercise.

Progress: HRP underpayments progress (consolidated)

DWP’s 2024–25 accounts revealed a sharp downward revision in expected repayments — from over £1 billion initially to around £30 million near-term — implying low take-up and a longer-term clean-up. Steve Webb called this a “hammer blow” and criticised reliance on a complex online claims process. Government-commissioned behavioural research confirmed many ignored letters due to confusion, scam fears, or digital barriers.

Primary sources: DWP behaviour research (May 2025)

Progress to 31 Mar 2025

Facing criticism, DWP officials and Ministers appeared on BBC/ITV to defend the approach. BBC Breakfast summarised that out of an estimated £1.1 billion owed, roughly a tenth had been paid so far, and noted the shift to an open-ended exercise. Interviews showed why many did not act: scam worries and long waits for responses. Martin Lewis devoted airtime and online content to explain eligibility and point viewers to GOV.UK tools and helplines.

Media references: BBC Money Box page |

Woman & Home summary of Martin Lewis segment

The government’s position is now that the money is available for those who claim it. There is no deadline to claim missing HRP, and people can apply even years later. Ministers say most records are unaffected and promise to fix errors as quickly as possible, though progress to date has been slower than many expect. Officials have clarified that historic NI records relevant to HRP reviews should be retained. Parliamentary committees continue to scrutinise delivery and outcomes.

Useful official links: Apply for HRP (CF411) | Underpayments progress (collection)

Publicity can correct injustices. Were it not for journalists, experts, and broadcasters, many women would still be unaware of missing pension money. Each article, news segment, and interview has helped people realise “this could be me (or my mum)” and spurred action. Yet huge numbers still haven’t claimed, either unaware or unsure how to proceed. If you or a family member took time out to care for children between 1978 and 2010, check your State Pension record and consider getting help to claim.

Evanshaw can assess your State Pension, handle HRP claims, and manage the evidence and submission — from checking your NI record to calculating arrears. Contact us for a free assessment and guidance on claiming HRP credits.