Getting the state pension? Don't bin an HMRC letter that may be worth £10,000s – it's NOT a scam

MSE_Molly_G

If you're getting the state pension and receive a letter from HM Revenue and Customers (HMRC) in the post, DON'T bin it. It's not a scam, and it could help you boost your pension by £10,000s.

Read the full story:
Getting the state pension? Don't bin an HMRC letter that may be worth £10,000s – it's NOT a scam

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Pollycat

From the article:

HMRC has asked us not to publish any part of the letter, to avoid the risk of having it mimicked by scammers – though we can share that the letter will be titled "You may be eligible for Home Responsibilities Protection".

"Home Responsibilities Protection'
Really?
I can see why people might think it's a scam.

Goldfinger

Have you tried getting a government gateway ID if you don't have a passport or driving licence.

Crystel

I paid up for all the missing NI contributions, when I went back to work after bringing up my 3 children...do I get that back?

SVaz

You wouldn’t have had any missing contributions,  Child benefit means you get NI credits up until they left school. 

molerat

SVaz said:

You wouldn’t have had any missing contributions,  Child benefit means you get NI credits up until they left school. 

Which is what this is all about - women not getting those credits.

Silvertabby

molerat said:

SVaz said:

You wouldn’t have had any missing contributions,  Child benefit means you get NI credits up until they left school. 

Which is what this is all about - women not getting those credits.

In many cases, not down to DWP error but because the (working) husband claimed the child benefit.  Mostly because, back in the day, most men considered themselves the breadwinners, with all income being in their names.  

However, I do remember a friend of my dad's saying that the child benefit was his beer money for 'services rendered'.  

UKfugative

It is OK for the HMRC to send out new letters.   What about the people who have already contacted HMRC and are still trying to get them to pay the increased pension.  My wife got confirmation, over a year ago, that her pension credits were incorrectly calculated and that she was entitled to more pension.  That was over a year ago and despite contacting them a number of times the increase in my wife's pension has yet to be implemented.  The last letter was sent over a month ago and my wife is waiting for a response, or at least an acknowledgement!!

Pollycat

UKfugative said:

It is OK for the HMRC to send out new letters.   What about the people who have already contacted HMRC and are still trying to get them to pay the increased pension.  My wife got confirmation, over a year ago, that her pension credits were incorrectly calculated and that she was entitled to more pension.  That was over a year ago and despite contacting them a number of times the increase in my wife's pension has yet to be implemented.  The last letter was sent over a month ago and my wife is waiting for a response, or at least an acknowledgement!!

I think I'd take the time to contact my MP about this.
Shocking to be raising people's hopes of an increased pension when they are not dealing with the backlog.

MSE_Molly_G

Hi all. We've updated this story with the answers to some FAQs we've been getting from MoneySavers – you can read it here.

Pinn10

I contacted HMRC before I retired and paid for my missing years. Can I assume they calculated it correctly or should I be checking with them? If I shouldn't have paid will I get my lump sum back (with interest perhaps)?