Martin Lewis: Do not bin £10,000 pension boost HMRC letter

The founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, hosted the Martin Lewis Money Show on ITV and gave a warning to senior citizens.

During the discussion, he talked about the importance of travel insurance, the different energy tariffs and paying off debits. He then specifically addressed older individuals, advising them to be cautious about throwing away a letter that may appear to be a scam, but in reality is not.

It's a common act we all engage in - glancing at a mail item and then disposing of it instantly. However, the renowned expert in frugality advises against this. It could potentially fetch you thousands of pounds.

The website, Money Saving Expert, provided information that HMRC has commenced reaching out to hundreds of thousands of individuals, predominantly women, who might not be getting their complete state pension allowance. This shortfall is due to an error in their national insurance documentation. As a consequence, they may be eligible for compensation worth thousands, as stated by Martin.

Are you receiving your state pension? If so, don't throw away any correspondence from HMRC, as it could potentially be worth thousands of pounds. Rest assured, this is not a scam. #MartinLewis advises you to take a closer look.

In particular, individuals who decided to take a break from their job to look after their relatives from 1978 to 2010 might not have obtained the 'home responsibilities protection' (HRP). Therefore, they could be impacted by this.

The letters are being dispatched in stages starting with individuals who have attained the age for state pension (which is 66 years) being privileged to receive them first.

"Letter" Actions: Tips And Tricks

The contents of the letter from HMRC and ways to verify its authenticity.

The note will have the heading "You could qualify for Home Responsibilities Protection" and instruct you to check out the Gov.uk HRP webpage.

If you have concerns that a letter you have received may not be genuine, it's advisable to hold off taking any action until you have verified its legitimacy.

If you are still unsure about any letters you have received from HMRC, you can visit the Gov. uk website to view a list of their recent correspondence. Additionally, you have the option to get in touch with HMRC directly by calling 0300 200 3500.

Please take note that HMRC will NOT intimidate you with threats of arrest or pressure you to transfer funds over the phone.

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If you have received the letter, ensure that you meet the requirements to enhance your state pension.

You will need to verify if you met the qualifications for HRP from 1978 to 2010. This can be done easily on the Gov.uk website. Once the checker confirms your eligibility, you can file your claim online. After this, HMRC will make changes in your national insurance record that could lead to an increase in your state pension payments.

In case you are incapable or uninterested in initiating a claim through the internet, simply give a call to the national insurance helpline at 0300 200 3500 and ask for a paper claim form.

If you haven't received a letter yet, but believe that you are eligible for HRP, then wait patiently for the time being.

Individuals currently receiving state pension are the ones primarily impacted, as the missing information in their records could directly affect their current payments. As a result, HMRC is giving priority to this group, followed by those nearing retirement age.

If you have many years left before you reach the state pension age, it's advisable to hold off on applying now and wait for HMRC to reach out to you. Otherwise, it could cause delays for everyone involved. However, if you have changed your address recently, be sure to inform HMRC.

The upcoming week, ITV 1 will air another episode of Martin Lewis Money Show.