Carer's Credit (not Carers Allowance)

[CeliaW]

"Up to 200,000 people are putting their state pension in jeopardy by not claiming carer's credit – a benefit that plugs gaps in your national insurance record when you're not able to work because you're caring for someone.

Carer's credit is not a typical benefit, as you don't receive any money for it. Instead, it's a national insurance credit designed to make up any shortfall you have in your national insurance record (eg, from having to give up your job to care for someone).

This record is what determines if you've worked enough to earn the state pension and it can also determine your eligibility for things like bereavement benefits.

It's not to be confused with carer's allowance credit, which recipients of carer's allowance will automatically get. While it works in the same way, carer's credit is NOT automatically given and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that up to 200,000 eligible people are not claiming it.'

www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/protect/2016/05/are-you-eligible-for-carers-credit-youre-putting-your-state-pension-at-risk-by-not-claiming

 

[Beate]

I saw that too. I'm guessing carers credit is for carers that do not qualify for Carers Allowance? It's not additional?

 

[CeliaW]

Beate, its better explained in the article link plus there is an online tool to see if you are eligible.

 

[nitram]

If you get Carer's Allowance you automatically get Carer's Credit

You don’t need to apply for Carer’s Credit if you:

. get Carer’s Allowance - you’ll automatically get credits
.
.
.
https://www.gov.uk/carers-credit/how-to-claim

Some may remember it as HRP (Home Responsibly Protection), they just changed the name a few years ago.

 

[CeliaW]

This is for different criteria. To claim Carers Allowance and thus also get the credit, you have to provide care for 35hrs per week.

This includes people looking after someone for 20 plus hours per week.

Full article:

"Carer's credit is not a typical benefit, as you don't receive any money for it. Instead, it's a national insurance credit designed to make up any shortfall you have in your national insurance record (eg, from having to give up your job to care for someone).

This record is what determines if you've worked enough to earn the state pension and it can also determine your eligibility for things like bereavement benefits.

It's not to be confused with carer's allowance credit, which recipients of carer's allowance will automatically get. While it works in the same way, carer's credit is NOT automatically given and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that up to 200,000 eligible people are not claiming it.

Check out our handy online tool to discover what benefits you're entitled to.

Am I eligible for carer's credit?

To get carer's credit you must be aged between 16 and state pension age and looking after one or more people for at least 20 hours per week. You don't get more 'credits' if you're looking after more than one person, but in this scenario you only need to be caring for at least a total of 20 hours.

The person you're caring for must also be a recipient of one of the following benefits: disability living allowance (care component at the middle or highest rate), attendance allowance, constant attendance allowance, personal independence payment (the daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate) or the armed forces independence payment.

If the person you're caring for doesn't receive one of these benefits, you could still be eligible for carer's credit – but you'll have to get a health or social care professional to sign part of the application form to verify it.

In a bizarre twist, it's possible for two people fulfilling the criteria above to be eligible for carer's credit by caring for each other.

You can also still get carer's credit even if you have breaks from caring (up to 12 weeks in a row), such as if you take a holiday, you go into hospital or the person you're caring for goes into hospital.

You can either download a carer's credit application form and post it to the Government's carer's allowance unit, or you can call the unit on 0345 608 4321 to get a form.

Your application must be received before the end of the tax year following the tax year to which the credits relate. This means a claim for the 2015/16 tax year must be made by 5 April 2017.

How far back can I claim?

You can go back four years – which means a claim made by 5 April 2017 could go back as far as the 2012/13 tax year. You can also claim even if the person you were caring for has since died or no longer needs caring for.

In these situations it's best to contact the carer's allowance unit directly on 0345 608 4321."