Sometimes people need to stop working or reduce their hours so they can care for family or friends. There are many reasons why you might need to do this. Find out some of the things to consider and the organisations that might be able to help.
What’s in this guide
Things to consider
Many people consider stopping work or reducing their hours to care for others, either permanently or temporarily.
Although the first thing on your mind won’t be your pension or retirement savings, there are some things to consider that might help you financially in the long term.
It’s important to think about how stopping work or reducing your hours will affect your private or workplace pension.
Find out more in our guides:
Your pension if you’re working part-time
Leaving your pension scheme
Early retirement
State Pension
To receive a full State Pension when you retire, you must have paid National Insurance for a minimum number of years.
You might be able to get National Insurance credits if you’re not working, and you usually you need to be claiming certain State benefits.
These credits can help to fill gaps in your National Insurance record. This protects your entitlement to:
- the State Pension
- contributory working age benefits
- bereavement benefits for your partner.
The following people can normally claim a National Insurance credit in certain circumstances:
- carers
- parents and foster carers
- a family member who cares for a child (usually while the parent or main carer is working)
- those getting maternity, paternity or adoption pay.
If you’re not entitled to a National Insurance credit, you might be able to pay Voluntary National Insurance contributions.
It’s a good idea to check if you are entitled to NI credits These credits can help to fill gaps in your National Insurance record.
You are entitled to National Insurance credits if you:
are, or have been, claiming benefits due to ill health or unemployment
are, or have been, on maternity, paternity or adoption pay
are, or have been, looking after a child under 12 are, or have been, on an approved training course
- are married to or are a civil partner of a member of the armed forces and you went with your partner on an overseas posting
- are, or have been, on jury service have served a prison sentence for a conviction which was later quashed.
Claims for some credits can be backdated for many years, so it’s always worth checking to see if you qualify.
Find out more in our guide Voluntary National Insurance contributions and the State Pension
State benefits
It’s important to make sure that you understand what support you might be entitled to from the State.
You, or the person you’re caring for, might be entitled to different benefits and allowances.
It’s important to claim as soon as possible so you don’t lose out on any benefits.
Find out more about some of the benefits and allowances you might be able to claim in our guide Benefits in retirement
If you've been told you haven't paid enough National Insurance to claim a benefit, it’s worth checking you've claimed NI credits you're eligible for. Find out what to do if NI is affecting your benefits on the Citizens Advice website
Organisations that can help
There are many organisations that can help if you care for another person, including:
- Citizens Advice
- Disability Service Centre at GOV.UKOpens in a new window
- Macmillan Cancer Support – if you’re looking after a friend or family member with cancer
