I’ve read the article and as far as I can see, yet again the specified childcare credits is not mentioned. So I will
if you work you pay ni contributions. Therefore your child benefit credits are unused. If a relative ( eg step nanny and nanny like me) looks after your children free of charge eg a grandparent they can have the ni credit and top up their missing years.
No minimum hours required, it’s a simple online form, both sign it and post it, the November after the end of the tax year.
I look after grandchildren once a week and was 6 years short. I stopped working before my state pension age (66) and have topped up 4 years ( with no charge) so far from childcare.
This is so unadvertised, loads of grandparents could claim this I’m sure. I think you can still claim if you don’t actually get the child benefit because of the earnings threshold but are still registered.