Home Responsibility Protection (HRP)

What is HRP?

Home Responsibility Protection (HRP) was a UK government scheme designed to protect certain welfare benefits when claimants experienced changes in their housing costs. It primarily applied to people transitioning from legacy benefits like Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance onto Universal Credit, ensuring their housing support did not reduce suddenly.
HRP worked by maintaining a level of housing cost support even if a claimant’s rent or mortgage payments decreased. This protection helped prevent a sharp drop in overall benefits, giving claimants financial stability during changes such as moving to a cheaper home or when their housing costs otherwise fell.
 

Who Qualifies for HRP?

You were not paying National Insurance contributions for a tax year between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2010 because you were:
  • Caring for a child under 16:
    • You received Child Benefit in your name for a child under age 16.
    • HRP was automatically awarded to the person named on the Child Benefit claim.
  • Caring for a sick or disabled person:
    • You were receiving Income Support and your eligibility was based on caring responsibilities.
    • Or you were caring for someone and receiving Carer’s Allowance.
  • Receiving certain benefits:
    • You were receiving Income Support as a carer or long-term sick person.

How Much Could You Be Owed for HRP?

It’s estimated that over 210,000 people in the UK may be affected by missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) credits, which can lead to underpaid State Pensions. If you were eligible for HRP between 1978 and 2010 but your credits weren’t properly recorded, you could be missing out on thousands of pounds.
  • Refunds typically range from £2,000 to £7,800, depending on how many years of HRP are missing.
  • In some cases, this could be even higher for individuals with long-term gaps in their National Insurance record.
  • Each missing year of HRP could add approximately £5 per week to your State Pension.
  • That’s around £260 per year, and over a 20-year retirement, this could mean £5,000+ in extra income.
  • If you’re already drawing your pension and your HRP credits were missing, HMRC may issue a backdated lump sum.
  • These payments can cover months or even years of underpaid pension, significantly boosting your financial security.
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