Home Responsibilities Protection - how can I benefit?
10/03/2008
Many older women find that they have virtually no pension because they haven’t been paying National Insurance whilst bringing up children. But surely mothers who give up working should be able to apply for something called the Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP)? I am 60 and have been “credited” with 10 years for the time I looked after my son. This HRP scheme is not widely advertised, but three of my friends have benefited from it since I told them.
Reader from Doncaster
The Benefits Doctor says:
"You're correct - HRP is not a benefit, but a scheme which helps protect your basic state pension. If you do not work or your earnings are low and you are caring for someone, you may be able to get it. And from April 2003, HRP was also made available to registered foster carers.
You are entitled to HRP if you get:
• Child Benefit in your name for a child under the age of 16
• Income Support and do not need to register for work, because you are caring for someone who is sick or disabled
• Regularly spending at least 35 hours a week looking after someone who is getting Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, or Constant Attendance Allowance
• A registered foster carer throughout a full tax year and are not receiving Child Benefit and are not in paid work, or do not earn enough in a tax year for it to count towards the Basic State Pension (below £4,524 in the 2007/08 tax year).
HRP also helps protect Bereavement Benefits for your husband, wife or civil partner, and has been available for full tax years from April 1978. But it would be best if you did not wait too long before claiming as it usually becomes more difficult to remember details of what you were doing as time goes by. The direct link to the government's website is linked below.
Or call 0845 345 4 345. I'm sure the DWP will be delighted you've highlighted this!
Billions of pounds in benefits go unclaimed each year by older people - often because the “system” seems confusing and demeaning. MT‘s “Benefits Doctor” Lee Healey, the manager of leading London charity DABD (UK), is here to help! Lee writes a “Benefits Doctor” column for Mature Times every month. You can write to him with your questions headed “Benefits Enquiries by email to: jayne.warren@maturetimes.co.uk. We cannot promise to answer all enquiries, but we will certainly do our best