CARERS need to ensure that they know their rights and take the necessary steps to boost their pension, Minister for Pensions Reform Stephen Timms said.

An updated information leaflet 'Your Guide to State Pensions for Carers and Parents' outlines exactly what carers need to do to ensure that they are benefiting from Government initiatives such as State Second Pension and Home Responsibilities Protection.

Stephen Timms, Minister for Pension Reform, said: "Reforms which this Government has introduced ensure that carers and people with long-term illness can benefit from building a larger pension.

"Since 2002, 1.9 million carers and 2.2 million disabled have begun to build up entitlement to additional State Pension for the first time. It is important that carers are aware of their entitlements and take the necessary steps to make sure that they are receiving the maximum benefit from these reforms.

"Many carers and parents will receive their additional State Pension automatically. However, it is still important for people to make sure this is the case for them. For example, unpaid carers in particular may need to take action and apply Home Responsibilities Protection to make sure they don't miss out."

To receive a copy of the information leaflet 'Your Guide to State Pensions for Carers and Parents (PM9)', call 0845 60 60 265. The leaflet will also be available in doctors' surgeries, Job Centres and local pension centres.

State Pension Facts

Basic State Pension

The State Pension is made up of basic State Pension and additional State Pension. The amount of basic State Pension you will receive when you reach State Pension age depends on the number of qualifying years in which you have paid, been treated as paying or been credited with National Insurance contributions during your working life.

Additional State Pension

Until April 2002, it was usually known as SERPS (introduced in 1978) and depended solely on the National Insurance contributions you paid as an employee.

From April 2002, State Second Pension reformed SERPS to provide a better additional State Pension for low and moderate earners, and include certain carers and people with long-term disabilities.

When will I get my State Pension?

If eligible, you can get State Pension when you reach State Pension age and claim it. At the moment, women can get their State Pension at 60 and men can get their State Pension at 65. From April 6, 2020, State Pension age for both men and women will be 65. The change from age 60 to 65 for women will happen over a 10-year period from 2010 to 2020.

You don't have to claim your State Pension when you reach State Pension age. If you decide to delay claiming it, you could get a higher weekly State Pension or a one-off, taxable lump-sum payment plus your normal weekly State Pension when you do finally claim. To find out more about this, you can get a free copy of Your Guide to State Pension Deferral (SPD1) by calling 0845 7 31 32 33 and quoting SPD1, or visit the Pension Service website on www.thepensionservice.gov.uk.

Do you care for somebody?

There are an estimated six million carers in the UK and 1.25 million provide more than 50 hours of care per week. Around 62 per cent are women.

Two million men and women become carers in any given year.

Research by Carers UK indicates that around three in five men and women will be a carer at some point in their lives. seven in 10 women and nearly six in 10 men can expect to be carers.

One in five carers has given up work to care.

Carers providing substantial care are twice as likely to suffer long-term ill-health.

Carers UK is a charity which provides free advice and information to carers via its free CarersLine (0808 808 7777, open Wed and Thurs between 10-12 & 2-4) and information booklets. It is a membership organisation of carers, with branches throughout the UK. It also carries out research and develops policy - enabling it to campaign on carers' behalf - and provides training for professionals who work with carers.

The website www.direct.gov.uk is a good way to access information and services online. There is a section on this website for people who are looking after someone.

Updated: 15:59 Wednesday, February 15, 2006