There are a wide range of benefits you may receive if you are a carer and claiming Carer’s Allowance. For example, you will automatically be entitled to Carer’s Credit. The Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit specifically for carers under the state pension age. This benefit helps with the gaps in your National Insurance record and protects our future entitlement to the basic elements of your state pension.

You are still able to receive Carer’s Credit even if you are not claiming for Carer’s Allowance and not making any contributions to your State Pension due to your caring role. As a carer, you may be entitled to this credit if you are:

• You are aged 16 or over
• You are caring for someone at least 20 hours a week
• You are not yet receiving State Pension
• The person you are caring for is receiving benefits for their illness or disability. For example, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, or Personal Independence Payment. If the person you are caring for is not receiving any of the eligible benefits, then you could still be able to claim by completing a ‘Care Certificate’

As a carer, you may also be entitled to an additional payment with Carer Premium. In order to claim for Carer Premium, you do not necessarily need to be receiving Carer’s Allowance, however you do need to meet the same eligibility criteria. If you are receiving Carer Premium, you will be getting a payment of £36.85 a week.

In order to claim for Carer Premium, you will need to receive at least one of these benefits:

• Housing Benefit
• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• Income-related Employment Support and Allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Council Tax Support