What is Carer's Credit?

For carers under State Pension age in England, Scotland or Wales who look after someone for at least 20 hours a week.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Carer's Credit is a National Insurance credit that fills gaps in your record, which helps your State Pension. You could get it if you care for someone for at least 20 hours a week. Your income and savings don't affect it.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

20 hours a week
Protects State Pension
Not means-tested

What Carer's Credit does

Carer's Credit is a National Insurance credit, not a cash payment. It fills gaps in your National Insurance record while you care for someone, so you do not lose out on State Pension and some other benefits later.

You usually need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance to get the full new State Pension (£241.30 a week in 2026/27), so each year counts.

Who can get it

You can usually get Carer's Credit if:

you are 16 or over and under State Pension age
you care for one or more people for at least 20 hours a week in total
the person you care for gets a qualifying benefit, such as the daily living part of PIP, Attendance Allowance, the middle or highest care rate of DLA, or the Scottish equivalents

If the person you care for does not get one of these benefits, you may still qualify if a health or social care professional completes a care certificate for you.

Carer's Credit or Carer's Allowance?

	Carer's Allowance	Carer's Credit
Hours of care	At least 35 a week	At least 20 a week
Cash payment	£86.45 a week	None
Earnings limit	£204 a week	None
Protects National Insurance record	Yes, automatically	Yes

You do not need to apply for Carer's Credit if you get Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment (in Scotland), or Child Benefit for a child under 12. You get credits automatically.

Breaks in caring

You can usually still get Carer's Credit during a break from caring of up to 12 weeks in a row, for example a holiday or a stay in hospital. Tell the Carer's Allowance Unit if the break will be longer.

How to apply

Download the Carer's Credit claim form from GOV.UK and post it to Freepost DWP Carers Allowance Unit. You do not need a stamp or postcode. If you need a Care Certificate, ask a health or social care professional to sign it. For help or a form in another format, call the Carer's Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (DWP). Rates usually change every April.
Carer's Credit: eligibility (GOV.UK)
Carer's Credit: how to claim (GOV.UK)
Carer's Allowance (GOV.UK)
The new State Pension: what you'll get (GOV.UK)

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Claim Carer's Credit

Common questions

Do I need to apply for Carer's Credit if I get Carer's Allowance?

No, if you get Carer's Allowance, Carer Support Payment or Child Benefit for a child under 12, you get the credits automatically.

Who can get Carer's Credit?

You must be 16 or over and under State Pension age, and care for one or more people for at least 20 hours a week.

What if the person I care for doesn't get a disability benefit?

You can still apply if a health or social care professional signs the Care Certificate part of the claim form.

Can I get Carer's Credit during a break from caring?

Yes, for breaks of up to 12 weeks in a row. Tell the Carer's Allowance Unit if the break will be longer.

Official sources

1.Carer's Creditwww.gov.uk/carers-credit
2.Carer's Credit: eligibilitywww.gov.uk/carers-credit/eligibility
3.Carer's Credit: how to claimwww.gov.uk/carers-credit/how-to-claim

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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