Thousands of Britain's carers could be missing out on a £244 boost on their pension every year, figures show.
A freedom of information request has found just 17,388 people were in receipt of Carer's Credit in December 2018 - out of the 200,000 people the Department for Work & Pensions estimates could be eligible.
If you care for someone but do not qualify for the Carer’s Allowance , you may be eligible for Carer’s Credit.
This counts towards your state pension entitlement and is worth around £244 a year when you retire - or £1,220 over five years.
To apply, you must be aged between 16 and 65 - and caring for at least one person for at least 20 hours a week.
Jon Greer, head of retirement policy at Quilter - who conducted the research - said: "Unpaid carers save the UK an astonishing £132 billion a year. A figure that will most certainly grow as our society ages.
"However, these people sometimes don’t even recognise themselves as carers or the extent of the sacrifice they are making. Thinking of their own long term financial wellbeing is crucial and the state pension is a big part of that, particularly as it’s money they rightfully deserve.
"The government has all the tools to ensure carers aren't unnecessarily disadvantaged, but at the moment they aren’t being used."
The financial services company is now calling for the Government to highlight the need to apply for credits.
"Given the low take-up so far, government also need to extend the length of time people can retrospectively claim credits as at the moment it’s merely to the beginning of the previous tax year," Greer added.
Laura Bennett, at Carers Trust said: "Carers willingly give their time and support, and the government know too many carers face financial hardship as a result.
"Surely the government should promote the take-up of Carer’s Credit, so that unpaid carers’ financial futures aren’t compromised? Carers Trust recommend that carers get impartial, free, advice from our network of carers support services. Carers can find their nearest one by entering their postcode at carers.org or phoning 0300 772 9600."
What is Carer's Credit and how can I claim it?
To get the full state pension, you need to have amassed at least of 35 years of National Insurance contributions - equivalent to one for every year in employment.
And while the obvious way of accruing this is though a job, for some, this is not always an option.
If you're a carer in the UK, you can apply for the Carer's Allowance. For every week you are entitled to Carer's Allowance you will get national insurance credits which count towards your pension. This means if you don't work, you will still get your credits.
However, if you do not qualify for Carer's Allowance or income support as a carer, then you can claim Carer's Credit instead.
To qualify for the credit, you must spend at least 20 hours a week caring for one or more people who are receiving a ‘qualifying benefit’, for example:
• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (the middle or highest rates of the care component)
• Personal Independence Payment (daily living component)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
Anyone unsure whether they qualify can apply using the downloadable form from the DWP website.
