Carers credit

pyrolizzie

I had to give up work 2 years ago (July 2017) to look after my severly disabled husband. I was 59 years old & therefore would lose some of my State Pension under the new system.
I found someone had posted something about a little known Carers credit on MSE & started to look into it.
Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit that helps with gaps in your National Insurance record. Your State Pension is based on your National Insurance record & Your income, savings or investments won’t affect eligibility for Carer’s Credit.
I applied online at https://www.gov.uk/carers-credit, and was awarded the credit backdated to the day I left work.
I actually applied for the credit in September 2018 when I first learnt about this & because I care for my husband for more than 20 hours a week I qualified. It took a couple of months but I was awarded it & it will continue until I get my State Pension when I am 66 years old. The benefit could have been backdated for the tax year in which I applied & the previous tax year, but as I had left work in July 2017, it was only backdated to then, as I had paid National Insurance until that time.
Therefore if anyone else finds themselves in this position, please apply for it as quickly as possible so that you do not lose out on your state pension just because you end up having to care for someone.
:j:T

[Deleted User]

if your OH gets pip care; or dla mid rate care or above you can get carers allowance which also gets you N.I credits. To get it on the basis of caring 20 hours a week you need a letter from the GP to confirm.
Also remember for the new unified state pension you only need 35 years N.I cont. in most cases.
OP do you get CA?