We all want to be able to care for our ageing relatives, but this can take its toll on us emotionally, mentally – and financially. While it’s important to ensure that your loved ones get the care they need, it’s important to make sure you aren’t compromising your own personal finances in the process.
As well as the allowances and payments available to the people you care for, there are also initiatives designed specifically to support carers – one of the most important being Carer’s Credit.
This guide will focus on what Carer’s Credit is, how it could help you, plus provide a step-by-step overview of how to apply.
What is Carer’s Credit?
Taking time out of work, or not being able to work at all, due to caring responsibilities can create gaps in your National Insurance (NI) record. This impacts your ability to qualify for a State Pension. By providing Class 3 credits to help fill these gaps, Carer’s Credit helps to protect your future entitlement to a State Pension.
This means that carers can take the time they need to care for a loved one, without worrying about compromising their future financial entitlement. Unlike Carer’s Allowance, you won’t receive cash payments from this benefit, just the credits for your National Insurance record. It is also not means tested.
The Carer's Credit eligibility criteria
If you are caring for someone (or multiple people) for more than 20 hours a week – or if you will be in the near future – you may fulfill the criteria for Carer’s Credit.
You may also be eligible if the person that you care for receives, or is entitled to receive, the following benefits:
- Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest care rate.
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest care rate.
- Attendance Allowance.
- Constant Attendance Allowance.
- Personal Independence Payment daily living part.
- Armed Forces Independence Payment.
- Child Disability Payment (CDP) care component at the middle or highest rate.
- Adult Disability Payment daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate.
- Pension Age Disability Payment.
To qualify for Carer’s Credit, you cannot combine care hours with someone else to be eligible – you’ll need to individually care for the required 20 hours a week. However, if your personal caring hours are split between multiple people, you can add these together to meet this threshold. This is a key difference to Carer’s Allowance, which doesn’t allow you to combine split hours to meet the criteria (35 hours a week).
Learn more about eligibility for Carer’s Credit via the Gov.uk website.
If I have a break in my caring responsibilities, how will this affect Carer’s Credit?
Caring doesn’t always follow a linear path. For example, your relative could need to go into hospital for a short stay, or you may decide to take a short holiday to get a breather from your commitments.
You can take a break from caring for up to 12 weeks without losing your Carer’s Credit and your National Insurance record will still be protected during this time. If you receive Carer’s Allowance, your Carer’s Credit will continue for up to 12 weeks after your Carer’s Allowance ends.
It’s important to remember that if your caring hours are reduced, or you stop your caring responsibilities for more than 12 weeks, you’ll need to notify the Department for Work & Pensions about this change. Your eligibility for Carer’s Credit will then be re-assessed, and you’ll be informed of any changes to your receipt of this benefit.
What happens if my employment situation changes?
As mentioned above, to be entitled to Carer’s Credit, you need to have more than 20 hours a week of caring responsibilities. If you resume your employment or increase your working hours and do not meet this limit any more, you may not still be eligible for Carer’s Credit.
If this is the case, it’s a good idea to look into other forms of allowances and benefits that you might be eligible for as a carer, such as Carer’s Allowance. Make sure to look at some of our other guides, such as our overview of state benefits and our guide to funding elderly care.
How does Carer’s Credit differ from Carer’s Allowance?
While Carer’s Allowance provides carers with weekly payments (the 2025/6 rate is £83.30 per week), Carer’s Credit doesn’t provide carers with extra money – it solely helps to protect pension rights by providing NI credits.
If you receive Carer’s Allowance, you do not need to claim Carer’s Credit separately as your pension will already be protected. If you are not currently receiving Carer’s Allowance however, you can still apply for Carer’s Credit.
How to apply for Carer's Credit
To start an application, you can download and fill out the Carer’s Credit claim form or apply directly via the Gov.uk website. When completing your application, make sure that all of the personal details supplied are correct, and that you’ve best described your current care situation.
As with all financial decisions, it’s important to approach this topic sensitively if you decide to speak to the person or people that you care for about your application. While these conversations can be tricky to have, the long-term financial benefits are well worth the discussion.
If you are struggling to complete the application or would like to speak to someone about your application, it’s best to contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297 if you live in England, Scotland or Wales, or the Disability and Carers Service on 0800 587 0912 if you are based in Northern Ireland.
The application form includes a Care Certificate, but don’t forget to get this signed by a health or social care professional before submitting.
Submitting an application
If you’ve chosen to fill out the form, you’ll need to send this and any other documents to the Freepost DWP Carers Allowance Unit once you are happy with your application. Don’t worry about writing anything else on the envelope, this address is enough.
Decisions on applications are usually made within a three week timeframe, but this can vary.
If they need any further information for your application, the Department for Work and Pensions will be in touch directly, so don’t worry about following up with them.
Dealing with application decisions
If you are unhappy with the decision made on your application, you can ask for it to be revaluated – this is called a ‘mandatory reconsideration’. You can do this by filling out a form or by contacting the Department for Work and Pensions directly via the contact details supplied on your decision letter.
Remember, you need to submit a mandatory reconsideration within one month of receiving your application decision. Plus, it’s worth bearing in mind that the outcome of your application still may not change after this.
Carer's Credit: frequently asked questions
Can I use my Care Certificate to apply for Carer’s Credit?
Yes, if the person you care for does not receive a qualifying benefit, you can still apply for Carer's Credit by using a Care Certificate. This is supplied within the Carer’s Credit application form, but it will need to be signed by a health or social care professional before submitting.
Can Carer's Credit be backdated?
Yes, but only up until the start of the previous tax year. If you have what is considered a reasonable explanation for a late claim outside of this window – this includes illness or mental health conditions, hospitalisation, family bereavement, misinformation by an official and language barriers – your application for Carer’s Credit may still be considered.
Will Carer’s Credit affect other benefits that I receive as a carer?
In the same way that your income, savings or investments will not affect your eligibility for Carer’s Credit, receiving it will not affect any other benefits you may be entitled to either.
What can I do if I’m not eligible for Carer’s Credit?
Even if you are not eligible for Carer’s Credit, there are a number of other benefits that you may be entitled to. Check the guidance on the Government website for further information on the various kinds of financial support on offer if you are a carer. There is also plenty of advice on the Agespace website to help support you with your financial decisions.
