HMRC letter codes · National Insurance (CA)
CA2490Home Responsibilities Protection eligibility letter
Last reviewed 14 October 2026 · How Tax Letters checks its facts
In short
GOV.UK lists the CA2490 as a letter about Home Responsibilities Protection eligibility.
“Letter CA2490 … Home Responsibilities Protection eligibility”
GOV.UK: Check if a letter you’ve received from HMRC is genuine · checked 14 October 2026
Information, not advice: this page reports what HMRC, GOV.UK and the bodies named publish about CA2490. Each fact has its source and the day it was checked beside it.
When HMRC sends it
GOV.UK says that, with the CA2490, HMRC will send you a letter if it thinks you may have missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP).
“HMRC will send you a letter if we think you may have missing Home Responsibilities Protection”
GOV.UK: Check if a letter you’ve received from HMRC is genuine · checked 14 October 2026
What it asks
GOV.UK says the CA2490 letter asks you to check if you were eligible for HRP between 1978 and 2010, and that you may have been eligible if you received Child Benefit for a child under 16.
“we’re asking you to check if you were eligible for HRP between 1978 and 2010. You may have been eligible if you received Child Benefit for a child under 16.”
GOV.UK: Check if a letter you’ve received from HMRC is genuine · checked 14 October 2026
GOV.UK says the CA2490 letter will tell you how you can check if you are eligible to claim missing Home Responsibilities Protection and how to make a claim.
“The letter will tell you how you can check if you’re eligible to claim missing Home Responsibilities Protection and how to make a claim.”
GOV.UK: Check if a letter you’ve received from HMRC is genuine · checked 14 October 2026
How to send it or apply
GOV.UK’s Apply for Home Responsibilities Protection page says you can use the online service or the postal form to apply for Home Responsibilities Protection, which the CA2490 letter is about.
“You can use the online service or postal form to: … apply for Home Responsibilities Protection”
GOV.UK: Apply for Home Responsibilities Protection · checked 14 October 2026
Free help and HMRC contacts
GOV.UK’s Apply for Home Responsibilities Protection page also says you can phone the National Insurance enquiries helpline to ask for an application form to be sent to you. The CA2490 letter is about that protection.
“You can also phone the National Insurance enquiries helpline to ask for an application form to be sent to you.”
GOV.UK: Apply for Home Responsibilities Protection · checked 14 October 2026
Free help first
These routes are described by GOV.UK, TaxAid and Citizens Advice themselves.
- HMRC's extra supportHMRC offers extra support if your health condition or personal circumstances make it difficult to contact HMRC, for example a mental health condition, financial hardship or being treated in hospital.
- Someone to deal with HMRC for youYou can authorise a friend, relative or voluntary organisation to talk to HMRC for you and help you fill in forms.
- TaxAidTaxAid helps people with tax problems who cannot pay for advice. Tax Help for Older People merged with TaxAid in July 2025.
- Citizens AdviceCitizens Advice gives confidential advice online, over the phone and in person, for free.
- GOV.UK: Check if a letter you’ve received from HMRC is genuine (checked 14 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Apply for Home Responsibilities Protection (checked 14 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Get help from HMRC if you need extra support (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Appoint someone to deal with HMRC on your behalf (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- TaxAid: About us (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Citizens Advice: About us (checked 7 Oct 2026)