Martin Lewis issues warning not to miss out on huge payout
Money saving expert Martin Lewis issues warning to women over 66 who could miss out on a one-off payment worth tens of thousands of pounds
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Martin Lewis has issued a warning to mostly female pensioners over the age of 66 – who might be missing out on a one-off payout of ‘tens and thousands of pounds’.
The money saving expert, 51, from Manchester, appeared on Good Morning Britain earlier today to raise awareness of a pension calculation error that left more than 200,000 people underpaid.
Caregivers who took time off work between 1978 and 2010 for childcare responsibilities may have had their National Insurance miscalculated because Home Responsibilities Protections – a previous a scheme designed to protect parents’ and carers’ State Pension – was not included.
To correct the discrepancy, thousands are set to receive a letter notifying them of a payout, which could be worth ‘tens of thousands of pounds’.
But the money saving expert issued a clear warning to the eligible pensioners who might think it’s a scam: ‘Do not bin the letter’.
Martin explained: ‘I’m going to keep it really simple.
‘Hundreds of thousands of people aged over 66, mostly women, who took time off work for childcare responsibilities between 1978 and 2010 may have had their national insurance miscalculated because they may have been eligible for what’s called Home Responsibilities Protection, where they should have got national insurances credit and they didn’t.’
To correct the error, the government have started to contact individuals who missed out on the payment to inform them that they are due the credits.
Martin said: ‘They’re starting with letters to the over 66 – they’re being sent as we speak.
‘They might be sent over the next couple of weeks, so if you’ve not gone one yet, don’t worry.’
Good Morning Britain hosts Susannah Reid (right) and Richard Madeley (left) welcomed the money saving expert on to the show this morning to here of the payout
Martin Lewis has warned Brits that an error in National Insurance records, affecting anyone who took time off work to care for family between 1978 and 2010, means you could receive the government payout of ‘tens of thousands of pounds’
The pending payments may be ‘worth tens out thousands of pounds’ added on to state pensions.
However, the money saving expert issued a warning to those who are eligible – do not bin the letter.
‘My warning is do not bin the letter. These are not scams. If you get a letter from HMRC and it talks about home responsibilities protection, it is not a scam.
‘Some scammer might try a trick on the back of hearing me say this, so you can also go direct to gov.uk.’
Potential claimants should also be aware that, in its role as a Government body, HMRC will never urge people to transfer money over the phone.
Martin concluded: ‘It really just is a heads up for people to watch out for the letter. Hundreds of thousands of people will receive one.’
A Government spokesperson said: ‘We have identified and are correcting an issue related to the historical recording of Home Responsibilities Protection on the National Insurance records for people who first claimed Child Benefit before May 2000.
‘Most people’s records will be unaffected, and we have launched a new online tool to help people check whether they need to claim. HMRC has begun writing to those likely to be affected.
‘State Pension underpayment rates are very low but where errors do occur, we are committed to fixing them as quickly as possible.’
HMRC assured that ‘most people’s records will not be affected by missing HRP.’
Further information on eligibility and how to claim HRP is available on the Government website.
The body also said that, before making a claim, individuals should check their eligibility for HRP.
HMRC added: ‘The letters will be sent nationally and in phases, in order of how close customers are to State Pension age. Those over State Pension age will be contacted first.
‘We will be taking a test and learn approach and aim to write to several hundred thousand people over the next 18 months.’
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