Foster Parents, Kinship Carers & Guardians — Can You Get HRP?
Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) protected State Pension for parents and carers between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2010. You do not have to be the biological parent or the Child Benefit (CB) claimant to qualify. Foster parents, kinship carers and legal guardians can potentially secure HRP where the rules are met. This guide explains the two main eligibility routes, the documents HMRC accepts, and step-by-step submission.
Two eligibility routes (which applies to you?)
1) Child Benefit route (most common): If CB was being paid for the child and your details can be linked to the same household or address for the relevant year(s).
2) Pre-5 April 2002 caring route: If you were the main carer for around 35 hours per week for someone receiving a qualifying benefit, you can evidence caring credits even without CB.
Who fits these categories?
• Foster parents — local authority or private arrangements where the child lived with you (CB is usually paid to the local authority; use the caring route and LA letters).
• Kinship carers — grandparents, aunts, uncles or older siblings caring for a child where CB may be in another adult’s name or with the local authority.
• Legal guardians or special guardians — court orders may exist; CB may be in your name or elsewhere.
• Informal carers — where you took on day-to-day care without formal orders; school, GP and council records become more important.
Evidence bundle HMRC accepts (build it year-by-year)
Child Benefit route
• CB award letters, CB reference, bank statements referencing “Child Benefit”.
• Address linkage for you and the child (council tax, tenancy, utilities; school letters naming you).
• If CB was in another adult’s or the local authority’s name, include statements and documents tying the child to your household and your role.
Pre-5 April 2002 caring route
• Letter naming you as the carer with dates; evidence of around 35 hours per week.
• Proof the cared-for person received a qualifying benefit.
• GP, hospital, care-plan, social worker or local authority letters.
Identity & linkage
• Marriage certificate or deed poll; bills, tenancy or council tax bridging addresses; birth certificates or court orders where relevant.
How to apply — step-by-step
1) Get your NI record and mark the gap years: https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record
2) Choose your route and assemble documents for each tax year.
3) Write a cover note mapping each year to the evidence.
4) Apply on GOV.UK (CF411): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-home-responsibilities-protection
5) Track and chase at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.
Templates — copy/paste cover notes
A) Foster parent / LA CB case (caring route)
Subject: HRP Application — Foster Parent (Caring Credits) — [Your NI] — [Tax years]
I provided day-to-day care for the child during the tax years listed. Child Benefit was administered by the local authority. Please credit HRP for the years indicated.
B) Kinship carer — CB in another adult’s name
Subject: HRP Application — Kinship Care — CB in [adult’s name] — [Your NI] — [Tax years]
Child Benefit was in another adult’s name, but I was the day-to-day carer. Please credit HRP or transfer HRP for the years listed.
C) Special or legal guardian — court order
Subject: HRP Application — Legal Guardian — [Your NI] — [Tax years]
I was appointed as guardian under a court order and request HRP for the relevant years.
Mini case studies (how evidence comes together)
• Foster parent — local authority letter, school letter, GP record, council tax.
• Grandparent carer — school letters naming you, tenancy or council tax, GP letter.
• Special guardian — court order plus school or GP letters and address proofs.
Common pitfalls (avoid these)
• Missing dates on letters.
• No identity or address bridge.
• Relying only on statements.
• Buying Class 3 before HRP is decided.
FAQs
Can foster carers get HRP if the local authority claimed CB? Yes, via the caring route.
What if CB switched between adults? Map each tax year and request transfer where appropriate.
Do I need formal guardianship? Not always; evidence of day-to-day care is key.
How long will it take? Timelines vary; diarise chasers at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.
Official links
Apply for HRP (CF411) — GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-home-responsibilities-protection
Check NI record — GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record
Check State Pension forecast — GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension