It is saying "how long do you meet the recency requirements" meaning how long can you legally fly IFR, and the answer is 6 months, after that you have a 6 month grace period to meet the proficiency requirements but you are not legal to fly IFR during the grace period, and if you let the grace period six months pass without out shooting the 6 approaches ect. you would need to complete an instrument proficiency check (ipc) which is same thing as a competency check.