Carer’s Credit in Great Britain 2026/27: Eligibility and Claim

Carer’s Credit is a weekly National Insurance credit for eligible unpaid carers in England, Scotland and Wales. It can fill gaps in a National Insurance record that may otherwise affect State Pension entitlement. It is not a cash payment and does not decide the amount of your State Pension. Northern Ireland has a separate Department for Communities application route; use the Northern Ireland Carer’s Credit guide for an NI claim.

What Carer’s Credit does

Carer’s Credit helps protect your National Insurance record while you provide care. State Pension entitlement is based on that record, but the credit does not pay money now and does not guarantee that your future pension will rise by a particular amount. Check your own NI record and State Pension forecast to see whether there are gaps.

This is separate from Carer’s Allowance, which is a means-tested cash benefit in England and Wales. Scotland has Carer Support Payment. You may not qualify for either cash payment and still qualify for Carer’s Credit.

Who can qualify

GOV.UK says you must be at least 16, under State Pension age, and look after one or more people for a combined total of at least 20 hours a week. The person or people receiving care must usually get one of the qualifying disability benefits, such as the middle or highest care component of Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, the daily-living component of Personal Independence Payment, or Armed Forces Independence Payment. Scotland also has qualifying devolved disability benefits, including Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment.

If the person you care for does not receive a listed benefit, you may still qualify if a health or social care professional completes and signs the Care Certificate section of the application. The certificate is evidence for the care test; it does not guarantee an award. GOV.UK says income, savings and investments do not affect Carer’s Credit eligibility.

You can usually keep qualifying through a break in caring of up to 12 consecutive weeks. Contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit if a break lasts longer. Tell the relevant benefit office if the care arrangement changes.

Check whether credits are already automatic

You do not need to make a separate Carer’s Credit application if you receive Carer’s Allowance or Scotland’s Carer Support Payment, or if you receive Child Benefit for a child under 12; credits are normally awarded automatically. Foster carers who receive National Insurance credits through HMRC have a separate route. If one of these applies, check the NI record to confirm that the expected credits appear before submitting a duplicate claim.

How to apply

If credits are not automatic, download the Carer’s Credit claim form and complete it, including the Care Certificate if needed. You can request a form from the Carer’s Allowance Unit. Send the completed form to the Freepost DWP Carers Allowance Unit address stated in the current GOV.UK instructions; no stamp or postcode is required. Keep a copy and proof of posting. The online GOV.UK guide does not state a single annual application cut-off, so apply promptly rather than waiting for a pension claim.

If you disagree with a decision, GOV.UK says you can request a mandatory reconsideration. Follow the decision letter’s instructions and deadline. This guide does not assess an individual NI record, care test or pension amount.

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no calculator for deciding whether a care week qualifies or what it will add to a future pension. Check the official GOV.UK Carer’s Credit service and your current State Pension forecast.