You can apply for Home Responsibilities Protection ( HRP ) if, for full tax years (6 April to 5 April) between 1978 and 2010, any of the following were true: you were awarded Child Benefit for a child under 16 you were caring for a child with your partner who claimed and was awarded Child Benefit instead of you you were getting Income Support because you were caring for someone who was sick or disabled you were caring for a sick or disabled person who was claiming certain benefits You can also apply if, for a full tax year between 6 April 2003 and 5 April 2010, you were either: a foster carer caring for a friend or family member’s child (‘kinship carer’) in Scotland National Insurance credits for parents and carers replaced HRP from 6 April 2010. Who qualified automatically for HRP Most people got HRP automatically if they were: getting Child Benefit in their name for a child under the age of 16 and they had given the Child Benefit Office their National Insurance number getting Income Support and they did not need to register for work because they were caring for someone who was sick or disabled If your partner was awarded Child Benefit instead of you You may be able to transfer HRP from a partner you lived with if you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2008. The partner must have been awarded Child Benefit while you both cared for a child under 16. They can transfer the HRP to you for any ‘qualifying years’ they have on their National Insurance record between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2010. If you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, the HRP will be converted into National Insurance credits . If you reached State Pension age between 6 April 2008 and 5 April 2010, HRP will reduce the number of qualifying years you need for a full State Pension. If you were caring for a sick or disabled person You can only claim HRP for the years you spent caring for someone with a long-term illness or disability between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2002. You must have spent at least 35 hours a week caring for them and they must have been getting one of the following benefits: Attendance Allowance Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest rate for personal care Constant Attendance Allowance The benefit must have been paid for 48 weeks of each tax year on or after 6 April 1988 or every week of each tax year before 6 April 1988. You can still apply if you’re over State Pension age . You will not usually be paid any increase in State Pension that may have been due for previous years. If you were getting Carer’s Allowance You do not need to apply for HRP if you were getting Carer’s Allowance . You’ll automatically get National Insurance credits and would not usually have needed HRP . If you were a foster carer or caring for a friend or family member’s child You have to apply for HRP if, for a full tax year between 6 April 2003 and 5 April 2010, you were either: a foster carer caring for a friend or family member’s child (‘kinship carer’) in Scotland All of the following must also be true: you were not getting Child Benefit you were not in paid work you did not earn enough in a tax year for it to count towards the State Pension Married women or widows You cannot get HRP for any complete tax year if you were a married woman or a widow and: you had chosen to pay reduced rate Class 1 National Insurance contributions as an employee (commonly known as the small stamp) you had chosen not to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions when self-employed Check if you’re eligible You can use the Home Responsibilities Protection eligibility checker to see if you’re eligible. Check now

To get Home Responsibilities Protection ( HRP ), you can apply online or by post . You can also apply to transfer HRP from someone else. You can also contact the HMRC National Insurance helpline for an application form. If you were a foster carer or caring for a friend or family member’s child After you’ve applied, you’ll need to provide a letter from your local council or the agency you worked for. This is to confirm that throughout the full tax year (6 April to 5 April) you were either: an approved foster carer caring for a friend or family member’s child (‘kinship carer’) in Scotland If you were caring for a sick or disabled person You must include evidence showing the level of benefit the person was paid while you were caring for them, for example a proof of benefit letter. Check which benefits qualify . They must have been getting the benefit for either: 48 weeks of each tax year on or after 6 April 1988 every week of each tax year before 6 April 1988

Home Responsibilities Protection

Overview

Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was a scheme to help protect parents’ and carers’ State Pension. National Insurance credits replaced HRP in 2010.

You should have received HRP automatically if between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2010 you were awarded:

Child Benefit for a child under 16
Income Support because you were looking after a sick or disabled person and were not available for work

You may have missed out if your National Insurance number was not linked to your Child Benefit claim at the time. This could lead to underpayment of your State Pension.

You can still apply for HRP if you think it’s missing from your National Insurance (NI) record.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

If you did not qualify automatically for HRP

You may still need to apply for HRP if, for full tax years (6 April to 5 April) between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2010, you were either:

sharing the care of a child under 16 with a partner you lived with and they were awarded Child Benefit instead of you - you may be able to transfer their HRP
caring for a sick or disabled person

You may also need to apply if, for a full tax year between 6 April 2003 and 5 April 2010, you were either:

a foster carer
caring for a friend or family member’s child (‘kinship carer’) in Scotland

If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010

Any HRP  you had for full tax years before 6 April 2010 was automatically converted into National Insurance credits, if you needed them, up to a maximum of 22 qualifying years.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Home Responsibilities Protection

Overview

If you did not qualify automatically for HRP

If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010

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Home Responsibilities Protection

Overview

If you did not qualify automatically for HRP

If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010

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