Class 1 and class 3 national insurance

[mummyof2boys30]

Recently left work and am now a carer for my child due to school refusal (gets DLA). Hoping to be able to return to work in a few years. I currently get universal credit with disability and carer elements. I know carers allowance is like for like in £ but i dont know the difference in national insurance class. I am currently 10 years from full pension amount. If i dont claim carers allowance and stick with carers element on universal credit will i still receive contribution to get full pension? Thanks

Yes, UC provides Class 3 NI credits which still count towards your pension. Carers allowance provides Class 1 NI credits, which count towards your pension too, plus a few other benefits like contributions-based JSA and new-style ESA. The Class 1 credits will cover more benefit situations that you might find yourself in need of in future, so that's why I've opted to continue claiming Carer's Allowance despite the fact that it's deducted £ for £.

It's also useful to me to have the Carer's Allowance letter as a proof of being a carer, as I don't like to show proof of UC as it contains a lot more personal financial information. Plus it varies from month to month so places needing proof of carers element often ask for proof of a UC assessment period less than 3 months old. Whereas you only usually get 1 Carers Allowance letter per year so they will accept a letter up to a year old (I photocopy it and keep the same copy with me all year, with UC I'd have to either print off a new proof every few months or log into my UC account on my phone every time).