HRP

kpnuts49

My wife receives a reduced pension because of incomplete years, we had children at home between 1974, to 2004. Last child born 1988, received dla for him between 1996-2004.
she worked prior to having children, only worked part time between 1993-2012, and did not pay NI.
We have been told by hmrc that she signed a form to pay reduced rate NI, which she has not paid, which precludes her from HRP, hence the reduced pension. We have no recollection of this form, and appear to be at a dead end. Not entitled to HRP because she ticked a box, didn’t pay NI as she was not working or only doing 12 hrs a week and not earning enough to pay it. Any thoughts

p00hsticks

It sounds as if she opted for the 'married womans stamp' at some point an so would not qualify for a state pension in her own right but based on your record
Reduced rate National Insurance for married women - GOV.UK 

kaMelo

It will have been a long time ago when she signed the form, often egged on by their married work colleagues. 

Prior to 1978( ish) a married woman could choose to pay a reduced rate of NI, often called married woman's stamp. The form explained by choosing to do so they would not build any state pension entitlement of their own, instead they would be reliant on their husbands NI record.

Even though they stopped new claims for married womens stamp, those who had already chosen the option continued to pay a reduced rate, unless at some future point, they chose to change this and pay full rate NI instead.

kpnuts49

Thanks, she never paid NI contributions of any kind due to being at home or only working part time. 

sheramber

kpnuts49 said:

Thanks, she never paid NI contributions of any kind due to being at home or only working part time. 

Did she work full time before the children were born? 

She would be able to sign to pay the reduced stamp when you married. 

She must have paid NI contributions in some years if she gets a reduced pension. 

kpnuts49

Yes, she paid no until our first child. 1974, She didn’t’ Work after that for 20 years then worked part time. Last son received dla from 1996-2004

Spoonie_Turtle

Edit: it looks like I may be wrong, depends if the form she signed still prevents HRP for caring purposes.

DLA is irrelevant, it doesn't give anyone NI credits.  If she had claimed Carers Allowance if eligible (or any previous equivalent) for caring for your son she would (or might, I'm not 100% certain about any previous equivalent) have been credited with class 1 credits.

nannytone_2

Her current pension entitlement May be due to the fact that she would have been credited with contributions for any years that she had a  Child aged under 12 and   Claimed child benefit, previously family allowance

kaMelo

Spoonie_Turtle said:

DLA is irrelevant, it doesn't give anyone NI credits.  If she had claimed Carers Allowance if eligible (or any previous equivalent) for caring for your son she would (or might, I'm not 100% certain about any previous equivalent) have been credited with class 1 credits.

I think the same as you, claiming carers allowance is not affected by someones NI record, as such claiming carers allowance should credit class 1 NI for as long as they claim it.

nannytone_2 said:

Her current pension entitlement May be due to the fact that she would have been credited with contributions for any years that she had a  Child aged under 12 and   Claimed child benefit, previously family allowance

Unfortunately by choosing to pay the married women's stamp they are not entitled to home responsibilities protection which ran until 2010.

badmemory

Unfortunately a lot of women who got married back then got the - now you are married you can save money on your stamp, just sign here.  Without ever explaining what they were losing.  Thankfully my employers were made of sterner stuff & said you can but we don't recommend it.  But it did mean that there were a lot of women who got to retirement age and found their pension hardly existed.

sheramber

Spoonie_Turtle said:

DLA is irrelevant, it doesn't give anyone NI credits.  If she had claimed Carers Allowance if eligible (or any previous equivalent) for caring for your son she would (or might, I'm not 100% certain about any previous equivalent) have been credited with class 1 credits.

You can get HRP if you were caring for a disabled oerson who received cretain benefits

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.

https://www.gov.uk/home-responsibilities-protection-hrp/eligibility