Marilyn asks:

I receive a reduced rate government retirement pension because I paid Married Women's National Insurance contributions as I worked part time while looking after my children. I was in full time employment (paying full National Insurance contributions) from 1960 to 1966 (my first child was born January 1967).

I then had two more children in 1968 and 1971 and I returned to work part time paying reduced N. I. from 1972 to 1990. After that I began to pay the full rate N.I again. I received reduced state retirement pension when I was 60 years old. Am I entitled to an added Pension re Home Responsibilities Protection (I was divorced in 1992 and remarried in 1994)?

Unfortunately I think you will be disappointed with my answer.  Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was a system in place before 6 April 2010 which protected the state pension entitlements of people with caring responsibilities.  HRP was changed from April to a system of National Insurance credits.

But HRP was not introduced until 6 April 1978 and the protection it gave was not retrospective.  Furthermore, married women cannot get HRP for any tax year in which they paid a reduced rate National Insurance (NI) contribution. 

If you have not done so already, you should enquire about whether you could boost your state pension by claiming on your husband’s NI contribution record.  That pension could be 60% of your husband’s basic state pension.  A claim can be made as long as your husband has reached his state pension age.  To make an enquiry you should contact the Pension Service on 0845 606 0265.

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