What is Carer’s credit? Carer’s credit as you should know is a national insurance credit that helps users with gaps in their national insurance record.
What Is Carer’s Credit
In regards to Carer’s Credit, you also should know that your State Pension is basically based on your national insurance record. If it is that you are caring for at least 20 hours per week, then you just might get Carer’s credit. That being said, your income, savings, or investments will not affect the eligibility of users for Carer’s credit.
What You Will Get With Carer’s Credit
Well, this is simple and easy. If it is that you are eligible for Carer’s credit, then you can qualify for credits to help you fill gaps that are in your national insurance record. What does this mean? Well, here it is. This simply means that you can take on the caring responsibilities without getting to affect your ability to qualify for the state pension.
Eligibility Criteria
In order to qualify for Carer’s credit, then you must first meet up with the eligibility requirements and they are;
- You must be aged 16 or over
- You must be under the state pension age
- Looking for one or more people for 20 hours a week at the least
That’s it for you. And the person you are looking after must get one of the following;
- Attendance allowance
- Disability living allowance care component at the middle or the highest rate
- Personal independence payment daily living part
- Constant attendance allowance
- Adult disability payment daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
- Child disability payment (CDP) care component at the middle or the highest rate
- Armed forces independent payment
If it is that the person in question that you are caring for does not get one of these mentioned benefits, then you just may still be able to get the Carer’s Credit. And when you are applying, you should make sure to fill in the Care Certificate part of the application form and then get a health or social care professional to sign it.
Breaks In Eligibility and Caring
You should know that also can still get Carer’s Credit in the event that you have breaks from caring which is up to 12 weeks in a row. For instance, you will still get Carer’s Credit for 12 weeks if;
- You get to embark on a short holiday
- A person you look after goes to a hospital
- If you go to the hospital.
In the event that you have a break in caring for over 12 weeks in a row, you should do well to keep the Carer’s Allowance Unit updated.
How to Claim
Claiming Carer’s Credit is easy but only if you have to. But if you don’t know how to claim this credit in question then you have nothing to worry about. In the course of this post, I will be guiding you through the steps in regard to claiming your credit. But before you start on the claims, here is what you need to know. You really do not need to apply for Carer’s Credit if you;
- Get Carer’s Allowance. If this is it with you will get credits automatically.
- Get child benefit for a child that is under the age of 12 as you will get credits automatically.
- Are a foster carer, as you can instead apply or National Insurance Credits.
That’s it. With that being said, let’s continue to applying for Carer’s Credit.
To apply to make use of a form, you will first need to download the Carer’s Credit claim form. The form in question includes a Care Certificate. And just as mentioned in this post already, you will need to ask a health or social care professional to help sign it for you. You also can get access to this form by contacting the Carer’s Allowance Unit. There are also other alternative formats for applying for this credit. And to get access to alternative formats, you will need to call the Carer’s Allowance Unit for that such as large print, audio CD, or even braille.
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