Key takeaways
- National Insurance credits fill gaps in your record when you are not paying contributions, for example while caring, ill, unemployed or bringing up children.
- Some credits are automatic, such as those for Universal Credit or Child Benefit for a child under 12; others must be claimed.
- Class 3 credits count towards the State Pension only; Class 1 credits also help with some other benefits.
- Grandparents and other family members caring for a child under 12 can claim Specified Adult Childcare credits.
- Registering for Child Benefit protects a non-working parent's record even if the family opts out of the payments.
You build your State Pension by paying National Insurance, but the system also gives free credits for periods when you cannot work or earn enough. Many people receive them without noticing; others miss out because they never claim. A year of credits is worth the same as a year of contributions: about 1/35 of the full new State Pension.
Class 1 and Class 3 credits
| Type | Counts towards |
|---|---|
| Class 1 credits | State Pension and some contribution-based benefits, such as New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance |
| Class 3 credits | State Pension and bereavement benefits only |
Who gets credits
Looking for work, ill or disabled
| Situation | How you get credits |
|---|---|
| Claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance | Class 1, automatically |
| Unemployed and looking for work but not claiming JSA | Apply to Jobcentre Plus |
| Claiming Employment and Support Allowance | Class 1, automatically |
| On Statutory Sick Pay and not earning enough for a qualifying year | Apply to HMRC |
| Claiming Universal Credit | Class 3, automatically |
Parents and carers
| Situation | How you get credits |
|---|---|
| Registered for Child Benefit for a child under 12 | Class 3, automatically, even if you opted out of the payments |
| Partner receives Child Benefit but you are the one at home | Transfer the credits from your partner by application |
| Grandparent or other family member caring for a child under 12 while the parent works | Apply for Specified Adult Childcare credits (Class 3) |
| Carer’s Allowance, or Carer Support Payment in Scotland | Class 1, automatically |
| Caring for one or more sick or disabled people for 20 hours a week or more, without Carer’s Allowance | Apply for Carer’s Credit (Class 3) |
| Foster carer, or kinship carer in Scotland | Apply for Class 3 credits |
Maternity, paternity and adoption
| Situation | How you get credits |
|---|---|
| Maternity Allowance | Class 1, automatically |
| Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared Parental or Neonatal Care Pay, and earning too little for a qualifying year | Apply to HMRC |
Other situations
- Jury service, if you are not employed or self-employed
- Spouses and civil partners of armed forces members accompanying them on an overseas posting
- Approved training that is not part of a university course
- Young people aged 16 to 18, who usually receive credits automatically if born after 5 April 1957
- Wrongful imprisonment, for periods later quashed
Child Benefit: claim even if you do not want the money
If your family’s income means the High Income Child Benefit Charge would take back all the benefit, you can opt out of the payments. Still fill in the claim form. Registering gives the parent at home Class 3 credits for every year the child is under 12, and makes sure the child is sent a National Insurance number before turning 16.
If the parent who claims Child Benefit already has a full year from work, the credits can be transferred to the other partner who stays at home, if they apply.
Grandparents’ childcare credits
Specified Adult Childcare credits let a grandparent or other relative aged over 16 and under State Pension age, who looks after a child under 12 while the parent works, receive the credit that the parent does not need. The parent must already have a qualifying year, for example from work. Apply to HMRC; claims can usually be made after the end of the tax year and backdated.
How to check your credits
Check your National Insurance record online or in the HMRC app. Each year shows whether it is a full qualifying year and, if not, how much is missing. If you believe you should have credits that are not shown, contact the office that dealt with your claim (for example DWP for Carer’s Allowance or HMRC for childcare credits). You can ask for a mandatory reconsideration if a decision about credits is wrong.
If you still have gaps after credits, you may be able to fill them with voluntary contributions. See also State Pension and National Insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get National Insurance credits for looking after children?
Yes, if you are registered for Child Benefit for a child under 12, even if you have opted out of receiving the payments.
Can grandparents get National Insurance credits for childcare?
Yes. A grandparent or other family member caring for a child under 12 while the parent works can apply for Specified Adult Childcare credits, if the parent does not need the Child Benefit credit.
Are National Insurance credits automatic?
Some are, such as those for Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and Child Benefit. Others, such as Carer’s Credit and credits for statutory payments, must be claimed.
Do credits count the same as contributions for State Pension?
Yes. A qualifying year made up of credits counts towards the State Pension in the same way as one made up of paid contributions.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance in October 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.