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Carer's Credits

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

What is it?

For the tax years from 6 April 2010 onwards, certain carers can be ‘credited’ with national insurance contributions. This can help them to qualify for other benefits, such as State Retirement Pension, which they may not otherwise be eligible for – for example, if their caring responsibilities prevented them from being able to work and pay national insurance contributions in the normal way.

This system of ‘credits’ replaces the former system of Home Responsibilities Protection, which was in force prior to 6 April 2010. However some years of Home Responsibilities Protection accrued prior to 6 April 2010 can be also be converted into credited contributions for those years.

Carers who receive Carer’s Allowance will already be credited with national insurance contributions by virtue of receiving that benefit, so would not need to rely on the following rules. 

You will be credited with a Class 3 national insurance credit for any week in which:

• you get Child Benefit for a child under the age of 12
• you reside with someone (for example, your partner) who gets Child Benefit for a child under 12 and you share responsibility for the child. However, the person receiving Child Benefit must not need the national insurance credit themselves because they otherwise satisfy it (for example, they are working and earning enough to pay national insurance contributions)
• you spend at least 20 hours a week caring for someone who either receives a ‘qualifying benefit’ or for whom the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) consider that the level of care you provide is appropriate. A ‘qualifying benefit’ is Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (the middle or highest rates of the care component).
• The DWP will consider the level of care as appropriate if there is a signed certificate confirming that from a health or social care professional. You continue to receive the Credit for 12 weeks after caring ends or for breaks in caring of up to 12 weeks
• you are entitled to Income Support as a carer (which does not always require you to receive Carer’s Allowance)
• you are an approved foster carer
• you are within the 12 weeks before you become entitled to Carer’s Allowance or the 12 weeks after Carer’s Allowance ends. 

How to claim

Normally you do not need to claim Credits – they will be awarded to you automatically by virtue of your other benefit claims, e.g. Child Benefit, Income Support or Carer’s Allowance.

However, if you are claiming because the person you live with gets Child Benefit, or because you are a foster parent, you need to apply to HM Revenue and Customs (link opens in a new window) 

If you are claiming because you are caring for a disabled person, you need to apply to the DWP (link opens in a new window). If you need to apply for credits, your application must be received before the end of the tax year following the tax year to which the Credits relate.

This information has been produced by Citizens Advice. 

Date of publication: 23 June 2010