What are Carer’s Credits?

If you are not working, you will not be paying National Insurance contributions. National Insurance count towards your basic State Retirement Pension. Carer’s Credits count towards your National Insurance record, helping you to qualify for State Retirement Pension.

You will qualify for Carer’s Credit if:

• You spend more than 20 hours a week caring,
• Over the age of 16 but under the State Pension age
• You don’t get Carer’s Allowance, and
• The person you care for gets:
  • Disability Living Allowance (middle or high rate care),
  • Attendance Allowance,
  • Constant Attendance Allowance,
  • Personal Independence Payment - daily living component, at the standard or enhanced rate,
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment,
  • Adult Disability Payment with the daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate, or
  • Child Disability Payment care component at the middle or highest rate.

If the person you care for does not get any of these benefits, you can still get Carer’s Credits if a health or social care professional confirms that the care you provide is needed.