Carer’s Credit: What It Is and Who Qualifies
Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit for carers who don’t meet Carer’s Allowance’s higher time threshold — worth knowing about even if you’ve already been told you don’t qualify for Carer’s Allowance itself, since these are genuinely different benefits with different purposes.
How it’s different from Carer’s Allowance
Carer’s Allowance is a weekly cash payment requiring at least 35 hours of care per week. Carer’s Credit isn’t a cash payment at all — it protects your National Insurance record (which affects your future State Pension) for carers providing at least 20 hours of care per week, below Carer’s Allowance’s threshold. If you’re caring for someone but don’t hit 35 hours, this is likely the benefit that actually applies to you.
Who qualifies
- • You’re caring for one or more people for at least 20 hours a week
- • The person (or people) you care for receives a qualifying disability benefit, or a care professional confirms the level of care needed (via a Care Certificate, if the care recipient doesn’t get a qualifying benefit)
- • You’re over 16 and under State Pension age
Why it matters even without a cash payment
Gaps in your National Insurance record can reduce your State Pension later. Carer’s Credit fills those gaps for years spent caring, protecting your pension entitlement even though you’re not receiving a weekly payment for the caregiving itself.
How to apply
Apply using the Carer’s Credit claim form, available from GOV.UK or by contacting the Carer’s Allowance Unit. If the care recipient doesn’t receive a qualifying disability benefit, you’ll need a Care Certificate signed by a health or social care professional confirming the care you provide.
Can you get both Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Credit?
If you already receive Carer’s Allowance, you automatically get National Insurance credits through that, so Carer’s Credit is specifically for carers who fall short of Carer’s Allowance’s 35-hour threshold but still provide meaningful care.
Keeping track of your caregiving hours
Since eligibility hinges on hours of care provided, having a clear record of your caregiving time makes both the application and any future queries much easier.FeatherKeep tracks your care hours automatically as you go.