For each week that you are entitled to carer’s allowance, you get a Class 1 national insurance contribution credit (as long as you have lost, given up or never had the right to pay reduced-rate contributions). Each tax year in which you have 52 Class 1 credits is a qualifying year for state pension (see Box L.1 in Chapter 46).

Carer’s credit can protect your state pension record if you are caring for someone but do not receive carer’s allowance. See Box D.3 in Chapter 11 for details.