People who claimed child benefit before May 2000 might be missing state pension payments.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is asking tens of thousands of people to check if they are eligible for a boost to their state pension.

This affects mainly women at, or approaching, state pension age.

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The issue arises from gaps in their National Insurance (NI) records.

Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was applied to the NI records of those who claimed child benefit between 1978 and 2000.

This was to reduce the number of qualifying years needed for the full basic state pension.

However, if someone claimed child benefit before May 2000 and did not provide their NI number, HRP may not have been applied, and their state pension entitlement could have been affected.

James Murray, exchequer secretary to the treasury, said: "The state pension is the foundation of state support for people in retirement.

"We are urging people to check their National Insurance records to make sure they will receive the pension they deserve."

HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are working to identify those affected and encourage them to make a claim for HRP so their records can be amended.

HMRC has said that checking eligibility and making a claim on GOV.UK takes about 15 minutes.