You may not be able to pay National Insurance, for example if you are ill or caring for someone. The government may give you credits so you can continue building up State Pension entitlement.
You may become entitled to some State Pension based on credits alone. Depending on your situation, your credits may also contribute to an additional State Pension.
There are different ways of getting credits. You often receive the credits automatically but in some cases you need to take action to get them.
You can find out more information on National Insurance credits
If you are aged over 18 and in full-time training, you will get credits. This is provided the training is government approved and does not last longer than a year.
Government sponsored courses are approved automatically. This does not apply to university students.
These credits count towards State Pension only.
If the training course is government sponsored you do not need to take any action to get the credits. If it is not government sponsored, you will need to apply for Class 1 credits.
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Include your National Insurance number and say when the credits are for and why you’re eligible
You may get credits if you are caring for someone.
You may get credits if you are:
These credits count towards State Pension.
You do not normally need to take any action if you are already claiming:
If the above does not apply, you need to apply for the credits.
You can find out more information on Caring and your pension
Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was a scheme to help protect parents' and carers' State Pension. It has been replaced with National Insurance credits for parents and carers.
You may still be able to apply for HRP if, for full tax years (6 April to 5 April) between 1978 and 2010, you were either:
You can also apply if, for a full tax year between 2003 and 2010, you were either:
You can find out more information about Home Responsibilities Protection
You can apply for Specified Adult Childcare Class 3 credits if all the following apply:
To find out if you're eligible for the credits, you can view or download:
To apply for Specific Adult Childcare credits, you can view or download:
You can request an application pack by telephone from:
Complete the application form and include any Care Certificates you need to support your application.
Carers can apply for Carer's Credit up to the end of the tax year following the tax year when caring took place.
If you are unemployed and looking for work you can get credits, provided you are:
These credits count towards State Pension.
If you are receiving Jobseeker's Allowance, you do not have to take any action. If you are not receiving Jobseeker's Allowance, you must contact your local Jobs and Benefits office.
If you are unable to work because of illness, disability or maternity, you can get credits. You need to be claiming one of the following:
This entitles you to State Pension. Depending on which benefit you are claiming, you may need to take action to get credits.
If you are getting Universal Credit you will receive credits automatically.
If you are claiming Working Tax Credit you can get credits.
If you are married to or a civil partner of a member of the armed forces, and went with your partner on an overseas posting after 6 April 2010, and are returning to the UK you can apply for Class 1 credits.
If you are married to or a civil partner of a member of the armed forces, and went with your partner on an overseas posting after 6 April 1975, reach state pension age on or after 6 April 2016, and are not getting Class 1 credits you can apply for Class 3 credits.
For more information you can view or download the New National Insurance credits leaflet