Carer’s Credit: protecting your State Pension while you care
If you care for someone for 20 hours or more a week, you might be leaving gaps in your National Insurance record without realising. Carer’s Credit fills them, so caring does not cost you State Pension later. It is not cash, but it can be worth a lot over time.
The short version
- Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit for people caring for at least 20 hours a week. You are not paid any money.
- Your income, savings and investments do not affect it.
- You get it automatically if you get Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment, or Child Benefit for a child under 12.
- If the person you care for does not get a qualifying benefit, a health or social care professional can sign the care certificate on the claim form instead.
Why it matters
Your State Pension depends on your National Insurance record. GOV.UK says you need 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension, and usually 35 to get the full rate, which is £241.30 a week. If you cut your hours or stop work to care, you can stop building qualifying years.
A qualifying year can come from paying contributions or from National Insurance credits, and caring is one of the ways to get credits. Carer’s Credit is how carers who do not get Carer’s Allowance can keep their record ticking over. You can check your own record and forecast on GOV.UK with ‘Check your State Pension forecast’.
Who can get it
You must be 16 or over, under State Pension age, and look after one or more people for at least 20 hours a week in total. In Northern Ireland, nidirect adds that the caring week runs Sunday to Saturday, so weekend caring can count, and that someone else also caring for the same person does not stop you getting it.
The person you care for usually needs to get one of these:
- Personal Independence Payment daily living part, or Adult Disability Payment daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
- Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest rate, or Child Disability Payment care component at the middle or highest rate
- Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability Payment, or Constant Attendance Allowance
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest care rate, or Armed Forces Independence Payment
If they do not get any of these, you can still apply. You fill in the ‘Care Certificate’ part of the form and ask a health or social care professional to sign it, confirming the care you give. This is the route for lots of parents whose child only gets the lowest care rate of DLA, or has not claimed yet.
When you get it automatically
You do not need to apply if you already get credits another way. GOV.UK says that applies if you:
- get Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment
- get Child Benefit for a child under 12
- are a foster carer, in which case you apply for National Insurance credits instead
So Carer’s Credit is mostly useful if you care for 20 to 34 hours a week, earn too much for Carer’s Allowance, study too many hours for it, or your youngest child is 12 or over.
How to claim
In England, Wales and Scotland, download the Carer’s Credit claim form from GOV.UK, or ask for one from the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). Send it to Freepost DWP Carers Allowance Unit. You do not need a stamp or postcode, and GOV.UK says not to write anything else on the envelope. In Northern Ireland, claim through the Disability and Carers Service; nidirect has the details.
If you disagree with the decision, you can ask for it to be looked at again. This is called mandatory reconsideration.
- Check you are not already getting credits through Carer’s Allowance, Carer Support Payment or Child Benefit.
- Note the National Insurance number and benefit details of the person you care for, if they get a qualifying benefit.
- If they do not, ask their GP, nurse, social worker or other professional to sign the care certificate.
- Post the form to the freepost address, and keep a copy.
Breaks in caring
You can keep getting Carer’s Credit through breaks of up to 12 weeks in a row, for example a short holiday or a hospital stay for you or the person you care for. If a break lasts longer than 12 weeks, tell the Carer’s Allowance Unit (or the Disability and Carers Service in Northern Ireland).
Related entitlement pages
- Carer's Credit — A National Insurance credit if you care for someone at least 20 hours a week, to protect your State Pension record.
- Carer's Allowance — A weekly payment if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get a qualifying disability benefit.
- Carer Support Payment — Scotland’s replacement for Carer’s Allowance, with additional Scottish carer payments in some cases.
- Universal Credit carer amount — An extra Universal Credit amount if you provide care for a severely disabled person.
Organisations that can help
These are listings from our directory. They are not a recommendation, and they may not cover your area.
Citizens Advice
National charity network offering free, independent advice, including benefits, debt, housing and discrimination. Use the website to find your local service or get advice online.
Benefits advice and welfare rights
Citizens Advice Scotland
The national organisation for Citizens Advice bureaux in Scotland. Free advice on benefits, money, housing and other issues, with a bureau finder on the website.
Benefits advice and welfare rights
Advice NI
Independent advice network covering Northern Ireland, including benefits and money advice. Use the website to find a local advice service.
Benefits advice and welfare rights
Contact
National charity supporting families with disabled children and young people, including a free helpline and information on benefits, education and care.
Benefits advice and welfare rights
Frequently asked questions
Do I get paid with Carer’s Credit?
No. It is a National Insurance credit, not a payment. It helps you qualify for State Pension later.
Can I get Carer’s Credit and work?
Yes. Your income, savings and investments do not affect it. You need to care for at least 20 hours a week and be under State Pension age.
My child only gets the lowest care rate of DLA. Can I still get Carer’s Credit?
You may be able to. Fill in the Care Certificate part of the form and ask a health or social care professional to sign it. If your child is under 12 and you get Child Benefit for them, you already get credits automatically.
Do I need Carer’s Credit if I get Carer’s Allowance?
No. Carer’s Allowance and Carer Support Payment come with National Insurance credits automatically.
Can I add up hours for more than one person?
Yes. GOV.UK says you can be looking after one or more people for at least 20 hours a week in total.
This guide is part of our Support for carers and disabled children guide. You might also want: Carer’s Allowance step by step, DLA for children, Blue Badge for children, Carer’s assessment, DLA to PIP at 16.