Carer's Credit

Carer's Credit is a way of protecting pension rights for people who are caring for someone but are not in paid work and are unable to claim carers' benefits. If you already get Carer's Allowance then you do not need to claim Carer's Credit as your pension is already protected.

Most carers caring for a total of 20 hours per week or more are able to apply for Carer’s Credit to protect their State Pension – both the basic and State Second Pension. 

Are you entitled?

You could benefit if you are in one of these situations:

• You care for 20 hours or more a week but miss out on Carer's Allowance because you don't care for 35 hours or more.
• You care for someone who can't or refuses to claim disability benefits.
• Where there is more than one of you caring for a disabled or ill person and someone else is getting the Carer's Allowance for that person.
• You look after several people but cannot claim Carer's Allowance because you do not care for any one of them for 35 hours.
• You are still providing a lot of care for someone who has gone into hospital or a care home, but cannot get Carer's Allowance because their stay in hospital or care home disqualifies them from disability benefits.

How to claim

To claim the Carer's Credit you need to be caring for one or more disabled person for a total of 20 hours or more a week where they get Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or the middle or highest rate of Disability Living Allowance care component; or you will need a medical or care professional to confirm that you are providing appropriate care for them. To claim Carer's Credit you need to apply to the Carer's Allowance Unit of the Department of Work and Pensions.