Transfer or Re-assign HRP Between Partners: When Child Benefit Was in the ‘Wrong’ Name (1978–2010)
HRP Quick Facts – Understanding Home Responsibilities Protection Transfers
HRP Quick Facts
- HRP protected parents’/carers’ State Pension between 1978 and 2010.
- Gaps commonly arise when Child Benefit was in the other partner’s name.
- Corrections are year-by-year and evidence-based.
- A concise annex + indexed exhibits speeds decisions and reduces queries.
Who Needs a Partner HRP Transfer?
If you were the main carer while your partner was named on Child Benefit, your NI record may lack HRP for those tax years. A transfer request asks that HRP credits be applied to the main carer for each relevant year. Because decisions are recorded annually, precise tax-year alignment is essential.
Evidence You’ll Need (and How to Use It)
Build a two-part pack:
- Annex (one page): one line per tax year — basis (CB/Carer), Child Benefit claimant, main-carer flag, evidence codes, and a short note.
- Exhibits: the documents the codes refer to:
- Child Benefit: award letters, bank letters referencing CB, HMRC letters naming the claimant.
- Identity & linkage: passports/ID, marriage certificate or deed poll (if names changed), divorce decree where relevant.
- Address history: council tax, tenancy/mortgage, bank or utility letters linking both partners to the family address.
- Care context: GP/consultant letters, care plans, or social-worker notes when relying on “carer” basis for some years.
Tips That Cut Queries
- Ensure names and dates are visible on every item.
- If an item is undated, bridge it with a dated partner document (e.g., tenancy + bank letter for the same period).
- Keep scans straight, clear, and complete — no cropped corners.
Annex Template (Copy & Paste)
| Tax Year | Basis (CB/Carer) | CB Claimant | Main Carer? | Evidence Codes | 1–2 Line Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | Child Benefit | Partner | Yes | A1, C2 | Child 1 born 1990; CB award names partner; joint tenancy |
| 1995–96 | Child Benefit | Partner | Yes | A2, C3 | Bank letter re CB; council tax at same address |
| 1996–97 | Carer | — | Yes | B1, C2 | GP letter naming you as main carer (dated within year) |
Coding Idea
A-series = Child Benefit items (A1 award letter, A2 bank ref, A3 HMRC letter)
B-series = Care/medical
C-series = Identity & linkage (ID, marriage/deed poll, address bridge)
Step-by-Step Transfer Flow
- List the missing years from your NI record.
- Confirm the Child Benefit claimant for those years.
- Build the annex (one line per tax year) with evidence codes.
- Add a cover note explaining why HRP should sit with the main carer.
- Submit and keep proof (submission copy + reference).
- Reply fast to any queries with clean scans (keep originals safe).
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Name changes not bridged across documents (add marriage/deed poll + address link).
- Vague statements with no dates.
- No annex (forces caseworkers to hunt through raw papers).
- Blurry or partial scans hiding names/dates.
Illustrative Case Study
Sarah’s NI record had three gaps from the 1990s. Child Benefit was in her husband’s name. Using a year-by-year annex and exhibits (CB letters + tenancy + ID linkage), HRP was applied to Sarah for all three years — increasing her pension forecast and triggering arrears for underpayment.
FAQs
Can HRP always be transferred to the main carer?
You can ask for HRP to apply to the main carer where the evidence supports it.
Do I send originals?
Start with clean scans; provide certified copies if requested later.
What if CB letters are missing?
Use alternatives: bank references to CB, HMRC letters, tenancy/council tax bridges, and short witness statements with dates.
How long does it take?
Simple cases can move in weeks; complex identity/address histories take longer. Clear annex + fast replies shorten timelines.
Written by Evanshaw HRP Team — helping parents and carers recover missing pension years through Home Responsibilities Protection reviews.