HRP Without Paperwork — How to Rebuild Evidence When You’ve Lost the Letters
Many eligible parents and carers no longer have their Child Benefit (CB) or caring letters from 1978–2010. You can still succeed with HRP if you rebuild your evidence. HMRC accepts alternative documents as long as they show identity, dates, address, and the caregiving context.
Why this matters
Many eligible parents and carers no longer have their Child Benefit (CB) or caring letters from 1978–2010. You can still succeed with HRP if you rebuild your evidence. HMRC accepts alternative documents as long as they show identity, dates, address, and the caregiving context.
What HMRC must be able to see (the ‘four pillars’)
1) Who — you are the right person (identity; name changes bridged).
2) When — the relevant tax years (dated evidence mapped to each year).
3) Where — the address linked to you and the child/caring situation.
4) Why — that Child Benefit existed that year, or you were a main carer (pre-2002 caring route).
Alternative evidence menu (mix and match)
Child Benefit (no CB letters):
• Bank statements with ‘Child Benefit’ references; CB reference numbers from HMRC helplines or old letters.
• School letters or reports, admissions or attendance showing the child at your address; birth certificates.
• Council tax or tenancy documents listing adults at the address; utility bills spanning the year.
Main carer transfer (CB in partner’s name):
• Partner’s CB award (if available), partner’s statement, school or GP letters naming you as the parent or carer.
• Joint council tax or tenancy; bills showing both names at the same address in the relevant year.
Pre-5 April 2002 caring credits (≈35h/week):
• Letter naming you as carer with dates; proof the cared-for person had a qualifying benefit; GP or hospital notes or care plan.
Identity & linkage (name/address changes):
• Marriage certificate or deed poll; bills, tenancy or council tax bridging old and new names; GP or school letters with both names.
How to reconstruct your case year-by-year
1) Make a simple table of tax years (for example, 1988–89, 1989–90) covering the period you were parenting or caring.
2) Against each year, list two items of evidence (aim for different sources).
3) Mark any name changes and address moves, and add bridging documents.
4) If a partner claimed Child Benefit, add a clear note: “CB in partner’s name; I was main carer” and include partner details or statement.
5) Keep copies. Do not send originals unless HMRC specifically instructs you to.
Templates — copy/paste cover notes
A) General HRP (no CB letters)
Subject: HRP Application — Reconstructed Evidence — [Your NI] — [Tax years]
Dear HMRC HRP Team,
I no longer have original Child Benefit letters for the years below. I enclose alternative documents which establish my identity, address, and parenting or caring in each tax year. Please consider these as evidence for HRP.
Evidence by tax year (examples):
• 1989–90 — Bank statement showing ‘Child Benefit’ payment; school letter naming me and the child at [address].
• 1990–91 — Council tax bill (same address); GP letter naming me as parent or carer for [child].
• 1991–92 — [repeat per year].
Identity and address linkage: marriage certificate or deed poll enclosed; tenancy or utility bills bridge addresses and names across the period.
Yours faithfully, [Name | NI | DoB | Address | Phone/email]
B) Main carer (CB in partner’s name)
Subject: HRP Application — Main Carer Transfer — [Your NI] — [Tax years]
CB was in my partner’s name, but I was the main carer in the years listed. I request HRP be transferred to me. Evidence includes school or GP letters naming me, joint council tax or tenancy, and a partner statement.
Yours faithfully, [Name | NI | DoB | Address | Partner’s name/NI if known]
C) Pre-2002 caring route
Subject: HRP Application — Caring Credits (pre-5 April 2002) — [Your NI] — [Tax years]
I provided care of around 35 hours per week for [name] during the years below. Evidence includes a letter naming me as carer with dates, plus proof of [name]’s qualifying benefit and GP or hospital notes.
Yours faithfully, [Name | NI | DoB | Address]
Submission, tracking & chasers
• Apply on GOV.UK (CF411): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-home-responsibilities-protection
• Keep a dated log of submissions and calls; diarise chasers at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.
• If evidence is requested, reply with a short cover note and a clearer table for the specific years queried.
Common rejection reasons to pre-empt
• Missing dates on evidence — add documents with explicit month or year and connect them to tax years.
• No identity bridge — include marriage certificate or deed poll and bills linking old and new names.
• Address mismatch — align CB or caring letters with the same address using council tax, tenancy, or utilities.
• Weak statements — avoid unsupported statements; always attach independent documents.
• Buying Class 3 too soon — wait until HRP is decided; credits may make Class 3 unnecessary.
FAQs
Can I get copies of old CB records from HMRC? You can request information HMRC holds, but for speed, use alternative proofs while you wait.
What if I only have evidence for some years? Submit what you have. HMRC may accept partial HRP while you continue searching.
Do photos or diaries help? Personal items add context, but HMRC needs formal or third-party documents for each year.
Will Evanshaw assemble my evidence? We guide you on the list and map it year-by-year; you provide the documents.
Official links
Apply for HRP (CF411) — GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-home-responsibilities-protection
Check your NI record — GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record
Get a State Pension forecast — GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension