Grandparents across the UK are being urged to check if they are eligible for payments of up to £3,000.
Many older relatives help out with family childcare, looking after their grandchildren as the cost of living crisis continues and childcare prices soar.
But a lot of people are unaware that they can be financially reimbursed for this from the Government.
The Mirror reports that grandparents could be eligible for extra credits worth £275 a year by the government.
This could work out to be just over £3,000 if someone who has been providing childcare every year since 2011/12 puts in a claim.
These credits are otherwise known as "specified adult childcare credits" and they count as a national insurance (NI) credit for those who don't otherwise work.
It could prove to be extra useful, as you need at least 10 years' worth of NI credits to qualify for the state pension, and at least 35 years' worth to get the full sum.
Former pensions minister Steve Webb, a partner at consultants LCP, has encouraged people to put in an application if they think they are eligible.
He said: "Informal childcare by another family member is often what enables a parent to go out to work, especially given the high cost of formal childcare.
"National Insurance credits help people to protect their state pension while doing valuable work such as looking after a child. Now that applications are open for 2021/22, I would encourage anyone who thinks they might be eligible to put in an application.
"They should also think about whether they might have been entitled at any point since 2011, as there is currently no deadline for backdated claims."
Am I eligible to claim?
In order to put in a claim for these credits, a carer must be under the state pension age, which is 66 years old.
The child they are looking after must be under 12 years old, or 17 if they have disabilities. Anyone living in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is eligible.
You're also only eligible if the child's parent is entitled to child benefit and has a qualifying year for national insurance without needing the parent’s class 3 national insurance credits, which they receive automatically from child benefit.
There isn't a minimum requirement for the number of hours of care to qualify.
How much can I claim?
This can vary depending on how long you've been helping out with childcare.
Each yearly credit is worth 1/35 of the value of the state pension, which is currently around £275 per year.
You can also backdate claims from as far back as 2011, meaning a person could claim just over £3,000.
How to claim the credits
Parents need to sign over their child benefit national insurance credit to someone else in order for a person to claim them. They should only do this if they're already working, or earning credits another way themselves.
Only one grandparent or family member can receive the credit and the credit isn't per child, but per child benefit claimant.
You can apply for the credits using this form on the government's website.
If you need any help you can call the national insurance helpline on 0300 200 3500.
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