DWP urges grandparents to come forward and claim £10,945

Thousands of grandparents could be missing out on a £11,000 state pension boost from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ). Grandparents are unaware that they may be entitled to National Insurance credits which could boost their state pension amount.

SunLife has warned grandparents to check their eligibility for Specified Adult Childcare credits, as many could be missing out on up to £11,000. The study revealed that 59 per cent of grandparents provide regular childcare for their grandchildren, dedicating an average of 18 hours per week to this unpaid service.

Mark Screeton, CEO at SunLife, emphasised the significance of this contribution stating: "Our research shows that grandparents are saving their grandchildren's parents more than £200 on average in childcare costs during the working week, in addition to savings on food, transport, and other expenses.

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"This amounts to an overall saving of around £13,500 a year, which is a significant amount." The study also found that if grandparents were paid for their 18.5 hours of weekly childcare, they would earn an annual salary of £10,945.

People can apply as long as they are an eligible family member, who provided care for a child, aged under 12, they were aged 16 years and over, but under state pension age, when they provided care for the child, they are ordinarily resident in the UK, but not the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

They must ensure the child’s parent or main carer has claimed Child Benefit, but does not need the credits themselves and the child’s parent or main carer agrees to their application too. Claire Trott, divisional director at St. James's Place said: "You don't have to sacrifice your state pension to help with childcare. If you're earning National Insurance in your own right, you can pass on the credit to a parent if needed.

"It is a simple process, but the Child Benefit needs to be claimed."