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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
People on Basic State Pension told to check for payment errors
DWP wants people to get in touch if they think their pension is wrong Independent Age has shared a new State Pension factsheet, offering vital insights for older people who already receive the benefit, which is worth up to £230.25 each week, as well as those approaching retirement age. The informative guide delves into all aspects of the payments, clarifying the distinctions between the New and Basic State Pensions, the right time to claim, options for deferral, how the amount is determined, and potential tax obligations. Yet, it also addresses historical underpayments, prompting people on the Basic State Pension who might have missed out on National Insurance (NI) 'top-ups' to get in touch with the Pension Service for a recalculation if they suspect errors. A survey by Independent Age revealed that 41% of over-50s are worried about their post-retirement finances, with nearly half admitting to a lack of understanding regarding their financial prospects, including the State Pension, upon retiring, as reported by the Daily Record. Guidance from Independent Age reads: "If you qualify for Basic State Pension and can claim State Pension 'top-ups', these are usually calculated for you. But some people - particularly women who paid reduced NI rates - may have had their State Pension miscalculated and underpaid." "If you think this affects you, contact the Pension Service to ask them to recalculate your State Pension. You can do this whether you're claiming or delaying your State Pension. You can also contact our helpline to arrange to speak to an adviser." The comprehensive guide to the full State Pension is accessible on the Independent Age website here. Alternatively, you can reach out to them directly by dialling 0800 319 6789. State Pension historical errors The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has disclosed that a collaborative State Pensions correction initiative with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), running from January 8, 2024, to March 31, 2025, unearthed 12,379 cases of State Pension underpayments to women with erroneous National Insurance (NI) records. In 2022, the DWP detected several State Pension accounts where it seemed historic periods of Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) were absent, resulting in incorrect State Pension disbursements. To date, approximately £104 million in arrears have been compensated, averaging payments of £8,377 each. Pension expert Helen Morrissey is calling on seniors to fill out the online form or get in touch with the Pension Service if they suspect they've been impacted. This is following new findings from the DWP which highlight the primary reasons why recipients who have received a letter from HMRC to verify their State Pension – due to potential inaccuracies – haven't responded. HMRC has dispatched over 370,000 letters, primarily to women, encouraging them to review their State Pension payments as they may be entitled to a higher amount. However, research from the DWP suggests that most people who received a letter did not subsequently apply for HRP. The barriers included: Not understanding the letter Thinking the communication was a scam Reliance on digital methods to put in a claim HRP was a scheme established to safeguard the State Pension entitlements of parents and carers, which was superseded by NI credits from 6 April 2010. HMRC is utilising NI records to identify as many people as possible who may have been eligible for HRP between 1978 and 2010 and who do not have HRP on their NI record. After May 2000, it became compulsory to include a NI number on claims, so those who claimed after this date will not have been affected. You might still be able to apply for HRP, for full tax years (6 April to 5 April) between 1978 and 2010, if any of the following were true: you were claiming Child Benefit for a child under 16 you were caring for a child with your partner who claimed 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 2003 and 2010, you were either: a foster carer caring for a friend or family member's child ('kinship carer') in Scotland Who qualified automatically for HRP The guidance on explains that 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 claimed Child Benefit instead of you If you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2008, you cannot transfer HRP. However, you may be able to transfer HRP from a partner you lived with if they claimed Child Benefit while you both cared for a child under 16 and they do not need the HRP. They can transfer the HRP to you for any 'qualifying years' they have on their National Insurance record between April 1978 and April 2010. This will be converted into National Insurance credits. 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 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 April 6, 1978 and April 5, 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 April 6, 1988 or every week of each tax year before April 6, 1988. You can still apply if you are 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 2003 and 2010, you were either: a foster carer caring for a friend or family member's child ('kinship carer') in Scotland Article continues below 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 If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010 Any HRP you had for full tax years before April 6, 2010 was automatically converted into National Insurance credits, if you needed them, up to a maximum of 22 qualifying years. A full overview of HRP can be found on here.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Record
People on Basic State Pension urged to check for historical DWP payment errors
The charity Independent Age has launched a handy State Pension factsheet providing essential information for older people already claiming the contributory benefit worth up to £230.25 each week, or those nearing the official age of retirement. The helpful guide covers everything you need to know about the payments, including the difference between the New and Basic, when to claim it, deferring, how the amount is calculated and when you might need to pay tax. However, it also takes a look at historical underpayments and urges those on the Basic State Pension who may have been due National Insurance (NI) 'top-ups' to contact the Pension Service to ask them to recalculate their State Pension if they think it might be wrong. A survey carried out by Independent Age found that 41 per cent of people aged 50 and over were anxious about their finances after retirement. Almost half said that they didn't have much knowledge of what financial options, including the State Pension, would be available to them once they retired. Independent Age guidance states: 'If you qualify for Basic State Pension and can claim State Pension 'top-ups', these are usually calculated for you. But some people - particularly women who paid reduced NI rates - may have had their State Pension miscalculated and underpaid. 'If you think this affects you, contact the Pension Service to ask them to recalculate your State Pension. You can do this whether you're claiming or delaying your State Pension. You can also contact our helpline to arrange to speak to an adviser.' The full State Pension help guide can be found on the Independent Age website here. You can also call them directly on 0800 319 6789. State Pension historical errors The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that between January 8, 2024 and March 31, 2025, a joint State Pensions corrections exercise with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), identified 12,379 State Pension underpayments to women whose National Insurance (NI) records are incorrect. In 2022, the DWP became aware of a number of State Pension cases where it appeared that historic periods of Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) were missing, leading to inaccurate State Pension payments. So far, around £104 million in arrears have been paid out, with an average payment of £8,377. Retirement expert Helen Morrissey is urging older people to complete the online form or contact the Pension Service if they think they have been affected after new research from the DWP shows the main reasons why those who have received a letter from HMRC asking them to check their State Pension as it could be wrong - have failed to do so. HMRC has sent out more than 370,000 letters - mostly to women - urging them to check their State Pension payments as they may be lower than they are entitled to. However, the DWP research indicates that the majority of people contacted by letter did not go on to apply for HRP. Barriers included: Not understanding the letter Thinking the communication was a scam Reliance on digital methods to put in a claim HRP was a scheme designed to help protect parents' and carers' entitlement to the State Pension and was replaced by NI credits from April 6, 2010. HMRC is using NI records to identify as many people as possible who might have been entitled to HRP between 1978 and 2010 and have no HRP on their NI record. After May 2000, it became mandatory to include a NI number on claims so people claiming after this point will not have been affected. How to use the online HRP tool You may still be able to apply for HRP, for full tax years (6 April to 5 April) between 1978 and 2010, if any of the following were true: you were claiming Child Benefit for a child under 16 you were caring for a child with your partner who claimed 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 2003 and 2010, you were either: a foster carer caring for a friend or family member's child ('kinship carer') in Scotland Who qualified automatically for HRP The guidance on explains that 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 claimed Child Benefit instead of you If you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2008, you cannot transfer HRP. However, you may be able to transfer HRP from a partner you lived with if they claimed Child Benefit while you both cared for a child under 16 and they do not need the HRP. They can transfer the HRP to you for any 'qualifying years' they have on their National Insurance record between April 1978 and April 2010. This will be converted into National Insurance credits. 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 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 April 6, 1978 and April 5, 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 April 6, 1988 or every week of each tax year before April 6, 1988. You can still apply if you are 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 2003 and 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 If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010 Any HRP you had for full tax years before April 6, 2010 was automatically converted into National Insurance credits, if you needed them, up to a maximum of 22 qualifying years. A full overview of HRP can be found on here.
Daily Record
04-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Attendance Allowance simplified to help pensioners claim up to £441 each month
More than 20 ned-to-knows about Attendance Allowance new and existing claimants should be aware of. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there are now nearly 1.7 million older people receiving additional financial support through Attendance Allowance, including 150,000 living in Scotland. The payment is worth either £73.90 or £110.40 each week and is designed to help people of State Pension age with daily living expenses - it does not cover mobility needs. The benefit supports people with a disability, long-term illness and mental or physical health issues. The list of conditions supported through Attendance Allowance is long, more than 50, but the most common disabling condition - an umbrella term used by the DWP - is arthritis, which provides support for 483,376 people across Great Britain, including 44,455 in Scotland. To make it easier for people over State Pension age, or their family members or friends, to decide whether to make a claim for the benefit, we have compiled a list of 22 key facts that sum up Attendance Allowance. Full details about Attendance Allowance can be found on here. Charities including Independent Age and Age UK can also help with claims and answer any questions over the phone or online via email or webchat. Attendance Allowance in Scotland It's important for people over 66 in Scotland to be aware that they can no longer make a new claim for Attendance Allowance and must claim a new devolved payment instead. Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) provides the same financial support as Attendance Allowance, but is administered and delivered by Social Security Scotland - full details here. 22 key facts about Attendance Allowance The benefit is administered by the UK Government and delivered by the DWP. There are 1,672,590 people over State Pension age claiming Attendance Allowance. Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. The benefit could help older people stay independent in their own home longer. It's paid at two different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability. You could get £73.90 (lower rate) or £110.40 (higher rate) a week to help with personal support. The lower rate of £73.90 is awarded if you need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night. The higher rate of £110.40 is awarded if you need help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live. Payments are made every four weeks, which means there are 13 payments over the course of a year. Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit. Savings and income do not affect a claim as the benefit is not means-tested. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment are qualifying benefits for the DWP annual £10 Christmas Bonus. There is no mobility element attached to Attendance Allowance. If you are approaching State Pension age, apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and you should get a 10-year award, up to £749.80 each month and may be eligible for the mobility component You cannot claim Attendance Allowance if you already get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), PIP or ADP. You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance. You cannot usually get Attendance Allowance if you live in a care home and your care is paid for by your local authority. However, you can still claim Attendance Allowance if you pay for all your care home costs yourself. You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim. You will only need to attend an assessment to check your eligibility if it's unclear how your illness or disability affects you. If you do need an assessment you will get a letter saying why and where you must go. During the assessment, a medical professional will need to examine you. You might still be able to get Attendance Allowance if you're a UK national and you live in or move to the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. All existing claims for Attendance Allowance will be replaced in Scotland by Pension Age Disability Payment by the end of 2025. Below is everything you need to know about Attendance Allowance including the 10 most-claimed for conditions, eligibility and how to make a claim. 10 most-claimed conditions supported by Attendance Allowance The 10 conditions listed below are supporting 1,252,041 (75%) of the 1.7m total number of people receiving Attendance Allowance payments. Medical conditions are sourced from information recorded on the DWP's Attendance Allowance computer system. It's important to note that this list is not a checklist for claiming Attendance Allowance, it is intended to help people understand what type of conditions are being supported. However, if you need extra support during the day or night due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition, you should check out the official eligibility guidance on the website here. Arthritis 483,376 Dementia 173,170 Heart Disease 124,528 Respiratory Conditions 104,098 Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints 86,319 Cerebrovascular Disease 74,716 Back Pain 74,804 Visual Disorders and Diseases 50,993 Parkinson's 44,440 Neurological Conditions 35,597 Below is everything you need to know about Attendance Allowance including the main health conditions being claimed, eligibility and how to make a claim. What is Attendance Allowance? Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a physical or mental disability or illness severe enough that makes it hard for you to look after yourself - it does not cover mobility needs. You do not need to have someone caring for you in order to make a claim. Who can claim? You should apply for Attendance Allowance if you have a disability or illness and need help or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night -even if you don't currently get that help. This might include: Help with your personal care - for example getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet Help to stay safe You should also apply if you have difficulties with personal tasks, for example if they take you a long time, you experience pain or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance isn't just for people with a physical disability or illness. You should also claim if you need help or supervision throughout the day or night and have: a mental health condition learning difficulties a sensory condition - if you are deaf or visually impaired How much could I get on Attendance Allowance? You could receive either £73.90 (lower rate) or £110.40 (higher rate) each week. This amounts to either £296.60 or £441.60 every pay period. You can spend the money however you like and it could help you stay independent in your own home for longer. This might include: paying for taxis helping towards bills paying for a cleaner or gardener Can I claim Attendance Allowance even if I have savings and other income? Yes. Attendance Allowance isn't means-tested so it doesn't matter what other money you have coming in or how much you have in savings either - there's no limit. it is also tax-free and you will be exempt from the Benefit Cap so you won't have money taken away from any other benefits. Will Attendance Allowance affect my State Pension? No, it won't affect your State Pension and you can even claim it if you're still working and earning money. How does Attendance Allowance affect other benefits? The other benefits you get might increase if you get Attendance Allowance, these include: Extra Pension Credit Housing Benefit Reduction Council Tax Reduction How do I make a claim? You will need to complete a long claim form when you apply for Attendance Allowance. It might seem daunting at first but help is available from your nearest Citizens Advice, so don't let the form put you off applying. If you'd prefer to do it yourself you can follow the Citizens Advice guide on how to fill in your claim form here. Full details of how to get the application form by post or over the phone can be found on the website here. What happens if I am about to reach State Pension age? If you are thinking about applying for Attendance Allowance when you reach State Pension age, you might be better off claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) straight away - you may be able to get more money. Who cannot claim Attendance Allowance? You cannot claim Attendance Allowance if you have a Scottish postcode, you need to claim PADP from Social Security Scotland - full details here. You won't be able to get Attendance Allowance if you already get PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to pay for your care. If you apply for Attendance Allowance while getting DLA, the DWP will usually reassess your DLA award instead. You can renew your PIP or DLA when the existing award ends as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria. If your renewal is unsuccessful you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead. Find out more about Attendance Allowance on the website here.
South Wales Guardian
11-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Winter Fuel Payment scams rise and how to avoid them
The payment was only available to pensioners receiving Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits. It will now be made to anyone with an income of under £35,000 a year, but many pensioners are unsure on whether they qualify. "There's a lot of confusion about who qualifies and who doesn't," says Fiona Peake, Personal Finance Expert at Ocean Finance. "Simply put, if you're over state pension age and your total annual income is £35,000 or less, you'll receive the payment. This includes income from private pensions, freelance work, and interest on non-ISA savings." The full details were announced here. Millions of pensioner households faced unaffordable energy costs last winter. While the changes will provide some relief to these households, there will still be pensioners unable to afford the high cost of energy and living in cold damp homes. So now the Government must focus… "It'll land in your bank account automatically, likely in November or December," says Fiona. "No forms, no calls, no claims. For those who know they'll be over the income limit, there'll be a way to opt out of the payment completely, to avoid having to repay it later but the government hasn't said exactly how yet. "The Winter Fuel Payment will be a lifeline for nearly two million older households who are living in fuel poverty, but the new eligibility criteria make things more complicated. A single pensioner earning £36,000 a year could have to pay back the full amount, while a couple earning £69,000 could keep every penny. That creates grey area scammers love to exploit." Devolved authorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland will each receive a funding uplift so they too can meet the new threshold. Independent Age chief executive Joanna Elson said: 'We are pleased that the UK Government has listened to the voices of older people on a low income and reconsidered what was an incredibly damaging change to the winter fuel payment. 'By widening the eligibility criteria, more older people in financial hardship will now receive this vital lifeline in time for winter. 'Our helpline receives thousands of calls from older people making drastic cutbacks just to get by and the changes to the winter fuel payment made this worse. For millions living on low incomes, the entitlement supports them to turn their heating on and stock up on food during the colder months. 'While the changes to the winter fuel payment are positive, they are not a silver bullet that will end pensioner poverty.' Martin Lewis shares 'crucial need to know' energy bill rules First up, don't panic, and don't blame yourself - it's easily done. The sooner you report it, the better. Siobhan Blagbrough, Financial Crime Manager at Ocean Finance, says: 'Fraudsters often pounce on government announcements to trick people when the public is most likely to be unsure of the rules. We're already seeing fake messages pretending to be from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), urging pensioners to 'apply now' or risk missing out on their £300 payment. "These scam texts often include fake links and ask for personal details or for people to reply 'YES' to claim the payment. These messages are bogus. The DWP has confirmed that eligible households will receive the money automatically, and no application is needed. 'If you've already clicked a link or given details, contact your bank immediately. You can also report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Above all, trust your instincts. Genuine government payments won't be sent via text messages with links or requests for personal information.'
Daily Record
10-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
People on Basic State Pension payments urged to check for historical DWP errors
Historical State Pension errors mostly affect women who can ask the DWP to recalculate their payments. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? The charity Independent Age has launched a handy State Pension factsheet providing essential information for older people already claiming the contributory benefit worth up to £230.25 each week, or those nearing the official age of retirement. The helpful guide covers everything you need to know about the payments, including the difference between the New and Basic, when to claim it, deferring, how the amount is calculated and when you might need to pay tax. However, it also takes a look at historical underpayments and urges those on the Basic State Pension who may have been due National Insurance (NI) 'top-ups' to contact the Pension Service to ask them to recalculate their State Pension if they think it might be wrong. A survey carried out by Independent Age found that 41 per cent of people aged 50 and over were anxious about their finances after retirement. Almost half said that they didn't have much knowledge of what financial options, including the State Pension, would be available to them once they retired. Independent Age guidance states: 'If you qualify for basic State Pension and can claim State Pension 'top-ups', these are usually calculated for you. But some people - particularly women who paid reduced NI rates - may have had their State Pension miscalculated and underpaid. 'If you think this affects you, contact the Pension Service to ask them to recalculate your State Pension. You can do this whether you're claiming or delaying your State Pension. You can also contact our helpline to arrange to speak to an adviser.' The full State Pension help guide can be found on the Independent Age website here. You can also call them directly on 0800 319 6789. State Pension historical errors The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that between January 8, 2024 and March 31, 2025, a joint State Pensions corrections exercise with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), identified 12,379 State Pension underpayments to women whose National Insurance (NI) records are incorrect. In 2022, the DWP became aware of a number of State Pension cases where it appeared that historic periods of Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) were missing, leading to inaccurate State Pension payments. So far, around £104 million in arrears have been paid out, with an average payment of £8,377. Retirement expert Helen Morrissey is urging older people to complete the online form or contact the Pension Service if they think they have been affected after new research from the DWP shows the main reasons why those who have received a letter from HMRC asking them to check their State Pension as it could be wrong - have failed to do so. HMRC has sent out more than 370,000 letters - mostly to women - urging them to check their State Pension payments as they may be lower than they are entitled to. However, the DWP research indicates that the majority of people contacted by letter did not go on to apply for HRP. Barriers included: Not understanding the letter Thinking the communication was a scam Reliance on digital methods to put in a claim HRP was a scheme designed to help protect parents' and carers' entitlement to the State Pension and was replaced by NI credits from April 6, 2010. HMRC is using NI records to identify as many people as possible who might have been entitled to HRP between 1978 and 2010 and have no HRP on their NI record. After May 2000, it became mandatory to include a NI number on claims so people claiming after this point will not have been affected. How to use the online HRP tool You may still be able to apply for HRP, for full tax years (6 April to 5 April) between 1978 and 2010, if any of the following were true: you were claiming Child Benefit for a child under 16 you were caring for a child with your partner who claimed 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 2003 and 2010, you were either: a foster carer caring for a friend or family member's child ('kinship carer') in Scotland Who qualified automatically for HRP The guidance on explains that 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 claimed Child Benefit instead of you If you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2008, you cannot transfer HRP. However, you may be able to transfer HRP from a partner you lived with if they claimed Child Benefit while you both cared for a child under 16 and they do not need the HRP. They can transfer the HRP to you for any 'qualifying years' they have on their National Insurance record between April 1978 and April 2010. This will be converted into National Insurance credits. 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 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 April 6, 1978 and April 5, 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 April 6, 1988 or every week of each tax year before April 6, 1988. You can still apply if you are 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 2003 and 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 If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010 Any HRP you had for full tax years before April 6, 2010 was automatically converted into National Insurance credits, if you needed them, up to a maximum of 22 qualifying years. A full overview of HRP can be found on here.
