News In Focus
22 February 2010
Government campaign to promote carer's credit
People caring for a friend or relative are being encouraged to claim the new carer's credit, being introduced in April.
Available to those looking after someone for more than 20 hours a week, the credit counts towards entitlement for the basic and second state pension.
The Department for Work and Pensions estimates that up to 4.7m people could benefit from the scheme.
Minister Angela Eagle said: "The state pension is everyone's foundation of financial security in later life and, therefore, it's only right that caring for others should be counted towards it."