Carer's Credit & NI Credits — State Pension NI Credits 2025-26

How Carer's Credit protects your NI record and state pension entitlement

How Carer's Credit works

If you are caring for someone for 20+ hours/week but not receiving Carer's Allowance, you can claim Carer's Credit. It fills gaps in your NI record so caring does not cost you state pension entitlement.

What each NI qualifying year is worth — 2025-26

Full new state pension (35 years)	£221.20/week	£11502.40/year
Value of each NI qualifying year	£6.32/week	£328.64/year
Cost to buy a voluntary year (Class 3)	£824.20	~2.5yr payback

State pension forecast by NI years

10 NI years £63.20/week 11 NI years £69.52/week 12 NI years £75.84/week 13 NI years £82.16/week 14 NI years £88.48/week 15 NI years £94.80/week 16 NI years £101.12/week 17 NI years £107.44/week 18 NI years £113.76/week 19 NI years £120.08/week 20 NI years £126.40/week 21 NI years £132.72/week 22 NI years £139.04/week 23 NI years £145.36/week 24 NI years £151.68/week 25 NI years £158.00/week 26 NI years £164.32/week 27 NI years £170.64/week 28 NI years £176.96/week 29 NI years £183.28/week 30 NI years £189.60/week 31 NI years £195.92/week 32 NI years £202.24/week 33 NI years £208.56/week 34 NI years £214.88/week 35 NI years £221.20/week

Carer's Credit & NI Credits: protecting your state pension

NI credits are a critical but often overlooked part of the state pension system. They ensure that gaps in employment — due to caring, illness, or low income — do not permanently reduce your retirement income. Each NI credit gives you a qualifying year towards your state pension, worth £6.32/week (£328.64/year) for life.

It is important to claim NI credits proactively. Some, like Child Benefit claims, are automatic — but others (such as Carer's Credit) must be applied for. Failing to claim means losing qualifying years you may never recover.

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