DCHBX Data Breach Settlement 2025 – Check If You’re Eligible for Compensation

Published On: June 26, 2025

If you claimed Child Benefit before May 2000, you might be owed thousands in backdated pension payments. A long-standing issue involving missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) credits has come to light, with HMRC acknowledging that many people—mostly women—missed out on years of National Insurance (NI) credits. That missing data could mean your State Pension has been underpaid for decades.

With the average refund sitting at £7,859 and some claims topping £16,000, this is a serious financial opportunity for eligible claimants. Here’s everything you need to know.

Background

HRP was introduced in 1978 to protect the State Pension rights of people who were caring for children and not paying full NI contributions. But before May 2000, Child Benefit claim forms didn’t require a National Insurance number. As a result, HMRC failed to record credits for thousands of eligible parents—primarily women—who were not working but caring full-time for children.

Quick Overview

Topic	Details
Issue	Missing HRP credits from NI records
Who’s Affected	Child Benefit claimants before May 2000
Average Refund	£7,859
Highest Reported Refund	Over £16,000
Deadline for Corrections	March 2027
Action Required	Check NI record and apply via Form CF411
Apply Here	GOV.UK HRP Application Portal

What Caused the Error?

The issue stems from an administrative gap. Before 2000, when you applied for Child Benefit, you weren’t required to enter your NI number. That meant HRP credits, which should have helped boost your State Pension, weren’t linked to your NI account.

These credits were meant to ensure that stay-at-home parents wouldn’t be penalised later for gaps in paid employment. But without those records, many parents unknowingly built up fewer qualifying years toward their full pension.

Who Is Eligible?

You may be affected if:

You claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and 2000
You were not working or earning below the NI threshold during those years
Your NI number wasn’t provided on the original Child Benefit form
Your current State Pension seems lower than expected
You have gaps in your NI contribution history

This applies primarily to women over age 60 who were full-time carers in the 1980s or 1990s. But men who stayed home or shared care duties may also be eligible.

Example Case

Mary, a 75-year-old from Kent, recently discovered that 16 years of HRP credits were missing from her record. After applying, she received a one-time payment of £16,966 to correct her pension history. Thousands of similar cases are being processed right now.

How to Claim

Visit the GOV.UK NI Checker to view your full National Insurance record. Look for unexplained gaps during years you were claiming Child Benefit.

Use the HRP Checker Tool

GOV.UK also offers an online tool to help determine whether you may be missing HRP credits. It’s quick and free to use.

Complete Form CF411

You can apply:

Online via the official HRP application portal
By post by downloading Form CF411 and sending it to HMRC

You’ll need to include:

Your full name and date of birth
National Insurance number
Dates you claimed Child Benefit
Any supporting documents (if available)

Wait for Updates

HMRC typically processes forms within 15 working days. Once credits are restored, your case is forwarded to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which reassesses your pension. Expect a final decision in about 6–8 weeks.