Brits told to claim this DWP benefit and add £342 a year to pension

Thousands of people - particularly unpaid carers and parents who've taken time out of work - are being urged to check if they qualify for a little-known DWP benefit that could boost their state pension by up to £342 a year.

The scheme, known as Carer's Credit, helps plug gaps in National Insurance (NI) records for people who've stopped working or gone part-time to care for others. It can make the difference between receiving a full state pension or being left short in retirement.

To qualify for the full state pension, you need at least 35 qualifying years of NI contributions. But you only pay NI when earning over £12,570 a year - meaning anyone who steps back from work to care for children, elderly relatives or disabled family members could end up missing crucial NI years.

The full state pension currently stands at £230.25 a week, or £11,973 a year.

By claiming Carer's Credit, missing NI years can be filled in, potentially increasing your pension by £342 a year - or more than £6,000 over a typical retirement.

How to check if you're missing out

Before applying, it's worth checking whether there are gaps in your NI record.

You can do this by visiting the government's 'Check your State Pension' tool at https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

It shows your current NI record, state pension forecast, and how much you could gain by adding missing years.

You'll need to log in using your Personal Tax Account or HMRC app login.

If you don't already have one, you can register online at gov.uk.

The tool also explains whether you can buy back missing NI years or claim free credits such as Carer's Credit.

Who can claim Carer's Credit

Carer's Credit is designed for those aged 16 or over, under state pension age (currently 66), and caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week.

The person being cared for must receive one of the following benefits:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - care component (middle or highest rate)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - daily living part
• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Child Disability Payment (CDP) - middle or highest rate
• Adult Disability Payment (ADP) - daily living component (standard or enhanced)
• Pension Age Disability Payment

If the person you care for does not get one of these, you may still be able to qualify - but you'll need a Care Certificate signed by a health or social care professional confirming the care you provide.

Thousands are thought to be missing out simply because they don't know about the scheme.

A DWP spokesperson said: "Carer's Credit ensures that those who take time out of work to care for others are not penalised when it comes to their state pension."

What to know about Carer's Credit

Credits aren't paid in cash - they're added to your National Insurance record.

They help make sure time spent caring counts towards your 35 qualifying years for the state pension.

If you already get Carer's Allowance, Carer Support Payment, or Child Benefit for a child under 12, you'll get credits automatically.

Foster carers should instead apply for National Insurance credits for foster carers.

You can check full eligibility here.

How to claim

Download the Carer's Credit claim form from gov.uk.

Or call the Carer's Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297 to request a form.

Send your completed application to:

Freepost DWP Carer's Allowance Unit

(No postcode or stamp required.)