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Disability Information Service
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Carer's Credit - What's changing?

Carer's Credit is a new National Insurance credit and is not to be confused with a benefit payment.

It will mean thousands more carers will be able to build up their basic State Pension and State Second Pension.
Bereavement Benefits for spouses and civil partners will also be protected.

From 6 April 2010, those caring for disabled people for 20 hours or more a week will be able to claim Carer's Credit if:

  • the person(s) they are looking after receives the middle or highest care component of Disability Living Allowance or any rate of Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance; or
  • the person or persons have been certified by a health or social care professional as needing the level of care being provided

People will need to apply for this new weekly credit unless they are receiving Income Support. It will also be given automatically to customers who are entitled to Carer's Allowance (CA) for certain weeks when they cannot receive CA credits.

Applications for Carer's Credit cannot be made until 6 April and will need to be on form CC1 which will be in the Carer's Credit Application Pack. This pack will not be available until 6 April.

After that date it can be obtained through the Carer's Allowance Unit or the Benefit Enquiry Line.

Alternatively, it will be available to download from the Directgov website.