Leaving Work

Leaving work to take on caring is a huge step, and this page is designed to help you think through all of the options to make sure this is the right decision for you.

Is leaving work the only option?

Before you make the decision to leave work, it’s important to consider the implications, and to explore any options that could help make your working and caring roles more manageable. For example, many carers reduce their hours and/or explore a flexible working arrangement

What impact will it have on my finances?

If you decide to leave work or reduce your hours, you may become eligible for Carer’s Allowance or other benefits or tax credits, depending on your circumstances.

Before making any decisions, it is therefore a good idea to get a benefits check to see what your financial situation would look like if you were to leave work or reduce your hours.

Pension

If you gave up work, you would no longer be treated as paying National Insurance (NI) through employment. It’s important to consider the impact this will have on your NI record, as it will affect your future pension entitlement.

Some benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance, can give NI contribution credits, which can help to protect your record. If you can’t claim Carer’s Allowance you may be able to claim Carer’s Credit to help protect your record.

Register With Us

By registering with us as a carer you will get access to a whole range of services, including advice, information, access to our groups, events and much more.

Need To Talk To Someone?

You can book a call with one of our support workers and talk to them about any of your concerns.