Income Support

If you get Income Support for a full tax year and do not have to sign on as available for work because you are caring for someone with a long-term illness or disability, you may be entitled to Home Responsibilities Protection to protect your basic State Pension. Since 6 April 2002 you may also build up State Second Pension for each full tax year you are awarded Home Responsibilities Protection because you are claiming Income Support as a carer.

You cannot qualify for Home Responsibilities Protection or State Second Pension if you are a married woman or a widow and have chosen to pay reduced-rate National Insurance contributions when working.

What do I need to do?

• If you get Income Support as a carer for a full tax year you should not have to do anything as the Inland Revenue will automatically award Home Responsibilities Protection.
• If you are not sure whether you have been awarded Home Responsibilities Protection, you can check with the Inland Revenue. Directory - Home Responsibilities Protection tells you how to contact the Inland Revenue to see whether you have Home Responsibilities Protection.
• If you did not get Income Support as a carer for the whole of the tax year but you have had to care for someone throughout the year, you will not be awarded Home Responsibilities Protection automatically. You will need to claim it. See How do I claim Home Responsibilities Protection? for details of how to claim Home Responsibilities Protection and the time limits that apply.