Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP)
The number of qualifying years required to build up the basic State Pension can be reduced for those with caring responsibilities or for those bringing up children. This is known as Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP).
HRP protects State Pension and bereavement benefits for carers if you are not working, or your earnings are low, e.g. if you are a carer looking after someone who is:
- a child under the age of 16 and you are in receipt of child benefit for that child, or
- a person with a long-term illness or disability who is getting Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or the middle or highest rate of the care component of the Disability Living Allowance
In some circumstances, it can also help to build up additional State Pension.
Since 6 April 2003 you may also be able to get HRP if you are a registered foster carer who does not receive Child Benefit.
You should be aware that to qualify for HRP you need to be getting Child Benefit throughout a full tax year.
For a full basic State Pension HRP cannot reduce the number of qualifying years below 20. When State Pension age for men and women is equalised at 65 from 6 April 2020, HRP cannot reduce the number of qualifying years below 22.
You get HRP automatically if you are receiving Child Benefit for a child under 16. It is also automatic if you receive Income Support and do not need to register for work because you are caring for a severely ill or disabled person. If you are caring for someone receiving Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance or are a foster carer, you need to apply for it. However if you are getting Carer's Allowance you do not usually need to claim HRP as you will be credited with a contribution each week.
You cannot get HRP for any year you are entitled to pay reduced NI contributions for married women and widows.
Please note that the Government has announced changes to the State Pension. The changes affect the age the State Pension can be claimed, the number of qualifying years required to claim the full Basic State Pension, flexibility for those claiming a pension based on a spouse's record, how Home Responsibilities Protection is calculated and the way pensions are uprated. Click here for information about the changes.
- When did it start?
Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was introduced from 6 April 1978, initially covering only the basic state pension. From 6 April 2002, HRP was extended to enable extra pension to be provided via the State Second Pension.
- How does it protect my Basic State Pension?
Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) works by reducing the number of qualifying years that you require in order to qualify for the full basic state pension. However HRP cannot reduce the number of qualifying years below 20. From 6 April 2020, when the state pension age for women is raised to 65 years, HRP cannot reduce the number of qualifying years below 22.
NB. If the number of qualifying years needed to qualify for the full basic state pension have been reduced to 20 years, only 5 years are needed to qualify for the minimum basic state pension.
- How does it protect my Additional State Pension?
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From April 2002, if you qualify for Home Responsibilities Protection, entitlement for the State Second Pension, will be calculated as if you had earnings at the Low Earnings Threshold (£13,500 – 2008/09) even if you do not work or earn less than the annual Lower Earnings Limit.
You will qualify for help towards the Additional State Pension if: -
- you receive child benefit for a child under age 6 years
- you are entitled to Carer's Allowance or
- you are getting HRP because you are caring for an ill or disabled person
- How do I get Home Responsibilities Protection?
You should be covered automatically if you are in receipt of Child Benefit for a child under 16 years (6 years for help towards the additional state pension) or Income Support. If you receive Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (at the middle or highest rate for personal care) or Constant Attendance Allowance, you should apply for Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP). You may also get HRP if you are a registered foster carer and not in receipt of Child Benefit and not in paid work, or do not earn enough in a tax year to count towards the Basic State Pension.
- Do I need to apply?
If you are eligible for Home Responsibilities Protection by virtue of being in receipt of Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (at the middle or highest rate for personal care) or Constant Attendance Allowance, you will need to apply for HRP. The same applies to a foster carer who is not in receipt of Child Benefit and not in paid work, or not earning enough in a tax year to count towards the Basic State Pension.
- How do I apply for Home Responsibilities Protection?
To apply for HRP you should contact the Pensions Service and ask for leaflet – How to protect your State Pension if you are looking after someone at home (CF411).
If you are a foster carer, you will need to show that you have been a registered foster carer throughout the tax year. To do so you will need a letter of confirmation from your local authority or agency you work for.
- Will I need Home Responsibilities Protection?
Yes, if the amount of your earnings in a tax year is less than the level needed to make a year a qualifying year.
If you are getting the following benefits, you can be credited with earnings and so will not need Home Responsibilities Protection.
- Invalid Care Allowance
- Disability Working Allowance
- Jobseeker's Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Approved Training
- Family Credit
- What should I do if I wasn't previously covered but should have been?
HRP has been available since April 1978. If you are claiming for years you have spent caring for someone with a long term illness or disability between April 1978 and 5 April 2002, you can claim at any time up to State Pension Age.
Since April 2002, you must claim HRP within 3 years of the end of the tax year you spent caring for someone with a long term illness or disability.
- What if I paid NI contributions at the married women's reduced rate?
Married women and widows cannot get HRP for any tax year in which they have paid reduced rate NI contributions. If however, they no longer have a reduced contribution liability, then they can get HRP.
- I am a foster carer does it apply to me?
Yes. Since 6 April 2003, HRP has been available to registered foster carers who do not receive child benefit.
- Does Home Responsibilities Protection protect bereavement benefits?
Yes. HRP also protects Bereavement Benefits for your husband.
- Where can I check that I am covered by Home Responsibilities Protection?
The Inland Revenue should be able to clarify, on 0845 915 8224.
To change the payee for Child Care Benefit you should ring the Child Benefit Centre on 0845 202 1444.
Q & As
