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The HRP scheme is targeted at those who do not work or have low earnings and are caring for someone.

However, according to financial adviser Grant Thornton, flaws in the automated HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) pension system could mean thousands of women in the UK are likely to miss out on a full state pension.

The HRP system reduces the number of qualifying years required to receive a full state pension from 39 years to a minimum of 20 years for women who have taken time off work to bring up children.

But despite that fact that the HRP should be given automatically to any woman who has received child benefits at any time since April 1978, advisers fear that in many cases the HMRC's system has failed to automatically adjust their qualifying pension years.

Mike Warburton, senior partner at Grant Thornton, said: "With any luck the issue will be identified promptly and the problem rectified so thousands of women can get what they are owed as soon as possible."

Warburton said the problem goes back as far as 1978 when HRP was introduced. His main concern is that thousands of women are currently struggling on reduced pensions despite being eligible to receive greater state support.

HRP should be given automatically to women and registered foster carers and some registered carers for sick and disabled person who since 5 April 1978 have stopped work to bring up children and who are claiming child benefit.

Warburton is also concerned that those affected by this problem will find it difficult to successfully reclaim any underpayments. This is because of the involvement of both the HMRC and the Pension Service, which will need to coordinate their activities.

"Whatever the case, it will be the responsibility of the individual to chase this up as neither HMRC or the Pension Service will be," he added.