Is 'housekeeping' classed as income?

Casdon Thank you

NannaRose I was self employed for those years and I did pay tax and NI. I will make some enquiries from your information

Thank you for your assistance.

And to *paddyanne'- 'I didn't have children to look after me' -neither did I. I have it on good authority I have about 2 years left. So it shouldn't be to much of a drain on them both.

If you had a job until 1989 and you’re now coming up to 66, presumably that means you accrued pension entitlement for 16 years as well, so why not claim what you are due?

I do think that all you need to do is tell HMRC that your partner provided for you. I have known a few women in this situation. They usually simply need confirmation.
However, I wonder why they are asking now, and if there are other concerns. CAB & turn2us are 2 organisations that often help.

I would definitely investigate you state pension entitlement. You say that you are 65 and have not earned anything for 30 years. If you were earning before that, then in normal circumstances you would have either paid NI or been credited with contributions for possibly 17 years. You would then have had Home Responsibilities credit - and the exact ways in which this was credited has varied over the years, so definitely worth looking at. It is quite possible that you have a good number of years . The gov.uk website will tell you how to check that.
You may then consider buying extra years by paying a lump sum - again the exact details vary so you need to check out exactly how it applies to you.
For instance:
If you paid or were credited with NI contributions for 17 years (age 18-35) then had Home Responsibility credits for say 13 years, that gives you 30 years contributions, and you may well be able to buy a 'top up' to give you enough qualifying years. I know several people who have done that.

I know it doesn't apply to you, but in case others are reading: if anyone decides not to work because they are supported by another person, they can still pay voluntary contributions in order to claim their State Pension. I know a number of women who did that.

hope2021, I was a stay at home mum for ten years, then went back to teaching.
I was in receipt of child benefit and my NI contributions were credited for those stay at home years.
You should be able to claim some sort of state pension, based on those credits.
If you go sign up to access Government Gateway, you will be able to see what you are entitled to.
My state pension is due in May and I was able to see what I will get.

I dont think you should rely on your children to look after you.They'll have their own families and homes to provide for.Their wives or partners wont be too thrilled if they have to keep mum for maybe decades because she didn't provide for herself .I cant imagine EVER expecting my children to "look after me" in any way ,its not what I had them for .

GagaJo your comment was the reason I didn't put this query onto Mumsnet!! I knew some of you might be shocked. Some people in those days did stay at home and look after the children. I did have a job til 1989 tho

Yes it was the 90's,

Thank you NellG I was not sure if it would be classed as income by HMRC

As in, you have an entitlement so you should claim. Just adding as you say you wont be claiming.

I don't believe it will be classed as income - as your partner will have already paid income tax on it before it got to you.

Pensions are paid according to NI contributions made, there are allowances for women who undertook childcare and who were homemakers. You will be able to get something, definitely give them a ring.

You will be able to claim contributions (Home Responsibility protection?)for every year you received child Allowance up until the youngest was 12, I think.

Also 3 years credit from 16-18 years of age so you will get something- give Pension people a ring at Newcastle, they’re very helpful.

Did you get child benefit for the children? NI is paid during those years.

But you are saying for the last 30 years. So that means from the 1990s. Taking nothing away from what you did and the choices made by yourself and your husband, I am pretty sure in the 1990s, a huge % of wives worked. All of my friends did. It isnt as if you said, 1950.

Sorry, that isn't an answer to your question. But I was shocked.

forgot to add, we were not married, so he would have only paid his own income tax which he did. I don't know if it makes a difference.