Martin Lewis urges state pension savers to take action - 'Could be owed £10,000'

Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has revealed the group of Brits who could be owed tens of thousands from HMRC. Lewis recently shared an important update about a state pension error, which could see many Brits lose out on payments they were entitled to. "It mainly affects women between the ages of 40 and 90," he revealed in a short YouTube clip, telling people to check if they are owed money.

"It's for people who took time off work between 1978 and 2010 to look after their children," he continued. "Or, to care for someone who is long-term disabled." He goes on to explain that people who fit this description were meant to have received what is called a Home Responsibilities Protection, which should have given them National Insurance years to replace the ones they weren't getting by working. "You need those National Insurance years to get a full state pension," he warned.

"But it's possible that over 100,000 women didn't. And while the government had been trying to contact those women, it has stopped doing so now. So the onus is on you."

"To show you how big this could be," he continued, "Cilla got in touch with me and said, 'I've just received 15 years' back pay from HMRC of £31,674 for underpayment of my pension, thank you'."

To see if you are owed money, he advises people to go to Gov.uk and check their State Pension forecast or statement. You can also call the Future Pension Centre, who will be able to post a copy of your forecast.

If your forecast says you are not getting a full State Pension or it says you're not on track to get a full State Pension, then you need to check your National Insurance record for gaps. This can also be done on the government website.

Look out for a gap during the years 1978 to 2010 if these were years when you took time off work to care for a child or someone with a long-term health condition. If you find a gap, you may be owed Home Responsibilities Protection.

"You need to go and do your research on Home Responsibilities Protection, because you could be owed money," Lewis said.