General Chat

Has anyone claimed this..? Now I am 60, will get what I can, someone mentioned this.. For people that have stayed at home raising children whilst on full time education...

oh will watch this with great interest

Hi Polly You mean if you didn't work at all, or for just the years taken off to look after the kids? I have to admit I still have 5 years (or probably more) before I retire, but I can hope it is still there if I am eligible. Granny

I thought HRA was credits for National Insurance that you are given whilst claiming Family Allowance/Child Benefit - to go towards your state pension. Could be wrong, sure I'll be corrected if so. Angela

I didn't work at all,two children and also had custody of step-daughter..

Don't know anything about it Angela,just heard about it...

Thanks Joan, was worth a try ! I don't know how pensioners manage on the money they get..!

I'd be interested in this, worked some but at home most of my life raising children, anyone know how it works out? Nanna-M :)

No Angela you are right, have you got your pension yet Polly.....you should have had a forecast and it would state how many credits you have towards the State Pension..... If you have not worked, and have not earned enough credits to allow you a Pension, then you are entitled to a percentage of your husband's earnings as a pension in your own right. This does not mean he will not receive a full pension, just that you are entitled to a percentage. Go onto the Department for Work and Pensions website and you will get all the information there......

Basically, Home Responsibilities Protection is a scheme that was introduced in 1978 (Need to check that - but around that time) to protect the pension entitlement of those that could not earn sufficient to cover the tax year with a sufficient amount of National Insurance contributions for it to be a 'qualifying year' for State Retirement Pension purposes. Primarily, the first thing you might think of is for those that stay at home or take part-time or low paid jobs in order to care for children. HRP is awarded automatically to those people that are the main recipient of Child Benefit (or Family Allowance as it was then) - or the main payee on the Family Alowance book (also as it was then) It will only count for retirement pension and no other benefit. It is awarded where appropriate i.e. where the year doesn't qualify for RP by virtue of N.I. contributions or credits, for each complete tax year until the year in which the child reaches the age of 16 years. (even though you may continue to receive Child Benefit after that time if they continue in education). HRP is also awarded to those in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance. You can apply for a Retirement Pension forecast which should show you how many years of HRP have been awarded. Hope that helps. I take no responsibility for the information I have given but this was how it stood when I was at work. Mags xx N.B. It is not always necessary to work for a whole tax year for it to qualify for RP - as long as you have paid a sum in National Insurance contributions equal to 52 x the sum paid on the Lower Earnings Level (the point at which you start to pay N.I.)

Thanks Sally and Mags... Just got my first one payed into bank £96 something for two weeks.. I really pity the pensioners out there.

What happens after all your children are over education age? 16 or 18 if they go to college, or 21 for Uni (usually), as Child Benefit is only paid to age 19, what happens next. I've never understood how they work these things out? Nanna-M :)

I know ! Will go mad and blow it ! Luckily I have other money but don't know how people manage.. At least I get free prescriptions, heating allowance, anything i can claim...OH has paid enough tax over the years...

Small note on RP for married women - also right when I was at work and I am not aware that it has changed. Where a woman reaches retirement age and either has not earned or been credited with sufficient years for her to receive a pension in her own right (RP isn't awarded on HRP alone) OR has a pension which is less than 60% of her husband's RP entitlement, she will either have to wait until her husband reaches age 65 (in the case of no pension entitlement at all) when he will claim the Married Couples RP - OR when her husband reaches 65, she will stop receiving any pension which is less than 60% and again, her husband will make a claim for Married Couple RP. If she receives a State Retirement Pension which is more that 60% of her husband's RP entitlement, she will continue to receive that pension in her own right and her husband will claim the single pension. Clear as mud that wasn't it? LOL Mags xx

Nanny Moo......telephone 0845 915 5996 and you will talk to the Inland Revenue. Ask your questions. You will need to tell them your National Insurance number.......if they cannot help you, they will give you a number which will........

Thanks Mags, that's really cleared it up !

60, Polly? You don't look a day over 40. :-) *doesn't add that she wouldn't know Polly from, er, Adam*

Also, months before you are due for a pension, ask for a Pension Forecast, here is the address:- Retirement Pension Forecasting Team Room TB001 Tyneview Park Whitley Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE 98 1BA. Phone number 1845 3000 168 Mon-Frid 8am to 8pm. Sat 9am-1pm You need your National Insurance Number.......

HRP stops at age 16 regardless of whether they go on to further education. You can pay voluntary NI contributions but these can only be back paid 6 years. It's worth looking at the option of paying voluntary contribition if you just miss out by a year of getting the minimum pension if it's a while before your husband reaches retirement age - paying one year's contributions, if it is within time allowances could give you a very small pension but multiplied by the number of weeks between your retirement age when it's first paid and your husbands retirement age might work out to be quite beneficial!

Phone Number for Pension Forecast should read. 0845 3000 168