Protecting the State Pension

Hi everyone, this is my first post here.

I drifted into looking after my mother and then my father too for many years (2013 onwards) without being aware of the benefits etc. possible from the Government. My mother died in 2018 and my father has passed away in Feb 2022 — we just about managed to get Attendance Allowance for my father but never got around to my Carer’s Allowance and I realise there are National Insurance credits missing that I am entitled to.
However I find that the Government, in its infinite wisdom, has a rule that you can only apply for the previous tax year, but under some circumstances they apparently go further back.
Does anyone have any experience of this sort of situation? What is the best way to plead for things to be backdated further?

It just sucks so much that my mother would have qualified for Attendance Allowance for several years but we didn’t get around to applying, so the work that I have done is not officially on record.

Hello Peter

Welcome to our forum, I’m sure carers who’ve experienced a similar situation will be in touch soon. In the meantime there is also Carers UK’s helpline should you need advice or support - Our Telephone Helpline is available on 0808 808 7777 from Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm or you can contact us by email (advice@carersuk.org), Please drop them a line or give them a ring Peter.

many thanks
Ingrid

Hello and welcome Peter

I’m sorry to read you missed out on carers allowance. And my condolences for your Parents. If you had of been connected to a local carers group I sure all what you would have be entitled too would have been replayed. I do advice new carers to link up to local carers groups who have a fountain of knowledge and know where to sign post people. Likewise Carers UK.

All I know about is for this situation is