Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are losing thousands of hryvnias: how to get an increase in your pension.

According to The Sun: Hundreds of thousands of people are not receiving essential support that could bring up to £6,840 over their pension career.

The Carer's Credit is a form of government credit that helps fill gaps in national insurance records and increase your state pension.

According to experts, at least 150,000 people are not applying for the Carer's Credit, losing out on free national insurance credits associated with it.

When the credit was first introduced in 2010, ministers estimated that around 160,000 caregivers could be eligible.

However, only 9,040 caregivers applied for the credit in 2023/24, according to an information request made by financial manager Quilter.

If you care for a loved one for more than 35 hours a week and receive Carer's Allowance, you automatically earn credits for your state pension.

However, if you care for someone for at least 20 hours a week and do not receive Carer's Allowance, you may lose your entitlement to the Carer's Credit.

Emily Goldhausen, director of policy and public affairs at Carers UK, explains: “If you are not receiving Carer's Allowance, are not earning, or have a low income, it is important to know about the Carer's Credit.”

Each year of credits is equivalent to a year of national insurance contributions, or 1/35 of the full state pension.

This amounts to £6.58 a week or £342 a year of state pension.

If you apply for credits and increase your state pension, you could receive an additional £6,840 over 20 years of retirement.

Steve Webb, former pensions minister and partner at the consulting firm LCP, notes that it is important for people not to lose their entitlement to the state pension after they have left their careers to become caregivers.

Who can claim?

To be eligible, you must be under pension age and care for one or more people for at least 20 hours a week.

The person you are caring for must be receiving one of the following benefits:

• Disability Living Allowance at the middle or high rate
• Scottish Disability Benefits at the middle or high rate
• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment daily living component
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Child Disability Payment at the middle or high rate
• Disability Living Allowance daily component at standard or enhanced rate
• Disability Payment for pensioners

If the person you care for does not receive any of these benefits, you can still apply.

How does the state pension work?

At present, the state pension is paid to men and women from age 66, but it is set to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046.

The state pension is a regular payment from the government that most Britons start to receive when they reach pension age.

Not everyone receives the same amount, and the payment depends on your national insurance record.

For most pensioners, this is just part of their pension income as they may have other sources of income from workplace pensions, earnings, and savings.

The new state pension is based on individuals' national insurance records.

Employees need to have 35 qualifying years of national insurance to receive the maximum amount of the new state pension.

You earn qualifying years of national insurance through work or by receiving credits, such as when you care for children and receive child benefits.

If you have gaps, you can fill your record by paying voluntary national insurance contributions.

To qualify for the old full basic state pension, you need 30 years of contributions or credits.

You will need at least 10 years in your NI record to receive any state pension.

When you apply, just fill out the 'Care Certificate' section of the application and ask a medical or social worker to sign it.

How to apply for Carer's Credit?

You do not need to apply for Carer's Credit if you are receiving Carer's Allowance, Carer’s Support Payment, or child benefits for a child over 12, as you will automatically earn national insurance credits.

If you are a foster parent, you can also apply for national insurance credits.

To apply for Carer's Credit, you need to download form CC1 from the Gov.uk website.

On the form, include details such as your address, national insurance number, and information about the person you are caring for.

Once you have completed the form, send it by freepost to the Carer's Allowance Unit.

You do not need a postcode or stamp.

Remember that the form contains the Care Certificate, so you will need to obtain a signature from a medical or social worker.

How to appeal a decision?

If your application is refused, you can appeal this decision by requesting a mandatory review.

Contact the social security office that issued you the decision by phone, letter, or by filling in a form requesting a review.

Generally, the request should be made within a month of the date of your decision letter.

If you are appealing in writing, the letter or form must be received by this deadline.

If you do not have a decision letter, contact the office where you submitted your application for support.

You will need to provide the date of the original decision, your name and address, date of birth, and national insurance number.

Additionally, prepare evidence to support your position as to why the decision was incorrect.

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The Carer's Credit can provide essential support for those who are helping loved ones for free. Even if you do not fit the usual criteria, it is important to learn about the possibility of applying, as it could increase your pension and make your finances more stable in the future. By understanding the conditions and rules regarding the credit, you can effectively utilize the available help for caregivers.