Grandparents or other family members who provide childcare support over phone or video chat are still eligible for national insurance credits that can boost their state pension.

Specified adult childcare credits are available to family members who are under state pension age and care for children under the age of 12, usually while the child's parent is working.

These allow the parent of the child to transfer the national insurance credit they get from child benefit to the person providing care.

The credits count towards state pension eligibility, by helping to stop gaps in the recipient's national insurance record.

A recently updated fact sheet from the Department of Work and Pensions and HMRC said:

"Since March 2020, your normal caring arrangements may have been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).

"If you have provided care in a different way, for example over the telephone or video, you can still apply for NI credits for the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21."

The credits can be claimed retrospectively, to 6 April 2011 at the earliest.

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