Carer's Credit: how caring for someone need not shrink your future pension

The UK State Pension depends on your National Insurance record. When someone gives up or cuts back work to care for a loved one, gaps appear in that record — and the future pension can end up smaller. Carer's Credit exists precisely to stop that happening.

What is it?

Carer's Credit is not money but a National Insurance credit. It fills the missing weeks in your contribution record, so that years spent caring still count toward your State Pension. In effect it protects your future pension rather than paying you to live on.

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Who qualifies?

You can get the credit if you care for someone for at least 20 hours a week. An important detail: Carer's Credit does not depend on your income, savings or investments — there is no means test. That sets it apart from cash carer's benefits.

How does it differ from Carer's Allowance?

Carer's Allowance is a cash payment with its own conditions (including on caring hours and income), and it usually gives an NI credit in itself. Carer's Credit is for people who, for various reasons, do not get Carer's Allowance but still care enough — so they do not lose pension-qualifying years. If you already get Carer's Allowance, you usually do not need to claim Carer's Credit separately.

What to do

Check your pension forecast and contribution record on GOV.UK: if you see gaps in the years you were caring, Carer's Credit may be what you need. You claim through the DWP. Do not delay — restoring a credit after the fact is harder than claiming on time. Always get the current conditions and the form from GOV.UK.