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What is Carer’s Credit?
Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit which helps you to qualify for the State Pension.
To be eligible for the New State Pension, you need to have been making National Insurance contributions for at least 10 years, either through paid employment, credits or voluntary contributions.
If you provide care for someone with a disability but are not accumulating National Insurance contributions through paid work or voluntary payments, this benefit will fill that gap.
The term ‘care’ includes tasks to help the person with day to day living, such as helping them to wash and dress, take medication, get out and about or managing their bills.
What’s the difference between Carer’s Credit and Carer’s Allowance?
Carer’s Allowance is a weekly payment (the rate for 2025/26 is £83.30) and National Insurance Credits. To be eligible you must care for one or more people for at least 35 hours a week.
Carer’s Credit is just the National Insurance credits, without a weekly payment. To be eligible you must care for one or more people for at least 20 hours a week.
Find out more about Carer’s Allowance.
Should I apply for both?
No, you should only apply for Carer’s Credit if you care for somebody between 20 and 35 hours a week.
If you receive Carer’s Allowance, you will automatically get the National Insurance credits that Carer’s Credit would provide.
Will claiming Carer’s Credit affect my benefits?
No, claiming this will not affect any other benefits you receive.
Who is eligible for Carer’s Credit?
- You care for somebody for a minimum of 20 hours per week. If you care for them for 35+ hours a week, you should apply for Carer’s Allowance instead.
- Aged between 16 and State Pension age.
- The person you care for must EITHER:
- Get certain benefits, including:
- Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance AllowanceThe middle or higher rate of the care component of Disability Living AllowanceThe standard or enhanced daily living component of Adult Disability PaymentThe daily living component of Personal Independence PaymentArmed Forces Independence PaymentThe middle or highest rates of Child Disability Payment (note that if you get Child Benefit for a child aged under 12 you do not need to apply for Carer’s Credit as you will already be getting National Insurance credits).
- Get certain benefits, including:
- OR have a health care or social care worker who is involved in their care fill in a Care Certificate to confirm that they need the care that you provide. The person who fills this in must hold one of the following roles:
- Social worker
- District nurse
- Occupational therapist
- Community psychiatric nurse
- MIND care worker
What happens if I take a break from caring?
If you go on holiday or the person you care for goes into hospital, you can still continue to claim the benefit for 12 weeks.
If you take a break from caring for more than 12 weeks, you will have to inform the Carers Allowance Unit.
You can still get Carer’s Credit for 12 weeks if you take a short holiday, if someone you look after goes into hospital, or you go into hospital. You need to keep the Carers Allowance Unit updated if you have a break from caring for 12 weeks or more.
How do I apply for Carer’s Credit?
You can apply using this form.
You will also need to include either the person’s benefits letter, confirming that they receive one of the eligible benefits, or the completed Carer’s Credit Care Certificate.
It is also possible to apply retrospectively (as in, you cared for someone for a while and want to fill in your NI contributions for that time) but you must do this by the end of the tax year after you finished caring for them at the latest.