Can I get National Insurance credits for caring for someone if I am not working?

Full answer

Carer's Credit exists specifically to stop unpaid carers losing out on State Pension entitlement simply because caring responsibilities prevent them from working and building up their own National Insurance record. **What Carer's Credit does** Carer's Credit provides a Class 3 National Insurance credit for each qualifying week, which counts towards the number of qualifying years needed for a full State Pension (currently 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension) -- it does not provide any direct cash payment itself, unlike Carer's Allowance, but protects long-term pension entitlement for people who might otherwise have gaps in their National Insurance record. **Qualifying conditions** To qualify, you generally need to be caring for one or more disabled people for at least 20 hours a week, and the person or people you care for usually need to be receiving a qualifying disability benefit (such as Attendance Allowance, the middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment daily living component, or Armed Forces Independence Payment) -- there is also a route to qualify without the cared-for person receiving a specific qualifying benefit, using a Care Certificate signed by a health or social care professional confirming the level of care provided. **Worked example** Someone gives up paid work to care for a parent with dementia for around 25 hours a week. The parent receives Attendance Allowance, a qualifying benefit. By claiming Carer's Credit, the carer receives a National Insurance credit for each qualifying week they provide this level of care, protecting their State Pension record during the period they are not earning enough (or at all) to build up qualifying years through paid work or Class 1/Class 2 National Insurance contributions. **Difference from Carer's Allowance** Carer's Allowance is a separate benefit that pays actual cash each week to eligible carers providing at least 35 hours of care, subject to an earnings limit for the carer -- someone receiving Carer's Allowance automatically also gets National Insurance credits, so does not need to separately claim Carer's Credit. Carer's Credit exists specifically for carers who provide at least 20 (but not necessarily 35) hours of care, or who do not otherwise qualify for or claim Carer's Allowance, ensuring their National Insurance record is still protected even without the cash benefit. **Caring for more than one person** Carer's Credit can be claimed where the required 20 hours of qualifying care is provided across MORE than one disabled person, not just a single person, provided the combined qualifying care meets the 20-hour weekly threshold -- this is useful for carers splitting their time between, for example, two elderly relatives with different care needs. **How to claim** Applications are made using a specific Carer's Credit claim form, which can be backdated for a limited period, and the claim needs to specify the periods and details of care provided, along with confirmation of the cared-for person's qualifying benefit (or a completed Care Certificate if they do not receive one). **Practical tip** If you provide at least 20 hours of unpaid care a week and are not already receiving Carer's Allowance (which would automatically protect your National Insurance record), claim Carer's Credit to protect your State Pension entitlement, and consider claiming it retrospectively for backdated periods if you have been an unpaid carer without realising this protection was available.

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