Did you know you could get Carer’s Credit if you are caring for someone for at least 20 hours per week?
Carer’s Credit helps with gaps in your National Insurance record, protecting your future state pension if you have to give up paid work to care for someone.
Eligibility
To receive Carer’s Credit you must be:
- Aged 16 or over
- Under State Pension age
- Looking after one or more people for at least 20 hours a week
- You cannot be paying National Insurance through paid work or receive benefits that automatically credit your National Insurance
The person you’re looking after must get one of the following:
- Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest care rate
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment daily living part
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Child Disability Payment (CDP) care component at the middle or highest rate
- Adult Disability Payment daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
- Pension Age Disability Payment
If the person you’re caring for does not get one of these benefits, you may still be able to get Carer’s Credit. When you apply, fill in the ‘Care Certificate’ part of the application form and ask a health or social care professional to sign it.
How to claim
You can find out how to claim and access the online claim form here.
You can also receive the claim form by calling the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297.
Cllr Del Arnall, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “If you are a carer it is important you protect your future state pension and claim your carer’s credit. This will make up for potential gaps in your National Insurance record.
“Claiming carer’s credit will ensure you are preparing for retirement in the future, without being left at a disadvantage.”
Breaks in caring and eligibility
You will still receive Carer’s Credit even if you have breaks from caring (up to 12 weeks in a row).
For example, you’ll still get Carer’s Credit for 12 weeks if:
- You take a short holiday
- Someone you look after goes into hospital
- You go into hospital
Keep the Carer’s Allowance Unit updated if you have a break in caring of more than 12 weeks in a row.