What impact will it have on my finances?

If you decide to leave work or reduce your hours, you may become eligible for Carer’s Allowance or other benefits or tax credits, depending on your circumstances.

Before making any decisions, it is therefore a good idea to get a benefits check to see what your financial situation would look like if you were to leave work or reduce your hours.

Pension

If you gave up work, you would no longer be treated as paying National Insurance (NI) through employment. It’s important to consider the impact this will have on your NI record, as it will affect your future pension entitlement.

Some benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance, can give NI contribution credits, which can help to protect your record. If you can’t claim Carer’s Allowance you may be able to claim Carer’s Credit to help protect your record.