Cash point

Thousands of grandparents doing the vital job of helping with childcare are missing out on National Insurance credits that will help build up their state pension.

Research from Age UK reveals that a fifth of the 14 million grandparents offering this lifeline have either given up work or reduced their hours.

A Freedom of Information request has found just 1,298 grandparents have taken advantage of a government scheme offering NI credits – an estimated 100,000 are eligible. Family members aged over 16, but under state pension age, caring for a child under 12 whose parent or main carer works, can apply for NI credits that top up state pension income.

The charity is calling on grandparents to check if they are entitled to NI credits, so they don’t end up missing out on pension income.

You need to apply for NI credits in the October following the tax year when you were eligible. So for the tax year 2016/2017 you would apply this October. Find out more at gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/ eligibility or call the NI Helpline on 0300 200 3500.