January 19, 2007
Home Responsibilities Protection - Hot Topics Q&A
Q. I have heard of "Home Responsibilities Protection" being quoted in various articles about the State Pension. What is this?
A. Very simply, it is a way of crediting years to people (usually women) who are, for example, looking after children or sick relatives.
One of these years is taken away from the number of qualifying years you needed to calculate a state pension. The total number of years, including HRP years, still need to total 20 years in order to qualify for a full state pension (increasing to 22 years in future).
This scheme is not publicised, and we recommend that if you feel that you or your wife qualify, that you check by filling in form BR19 from your post office. You will then receive a projection of the benefits the state pension scheme feel you qualify for. If you disagree you can then take this up with them.
If you've got a question you'd like to ask us just complete the form here and we'll get back to you with an answer (if we publish it we'll keep your name anonymous).
Filed under General, Pensions, Q&A by Ray Prince
