Getting credits if you can’t work because you’re sick or injured
If you’re unfit for work because of sickness or injury, we may be able to cover your contributions for you while you are signed off.
This means we can protect your contribution record so that you can still claim contributory benefits (such as a pension or maternity benefit), when you need to.
How to apply
Bring your medical certificate into Customer and Local Services. If you’re entitled to credits, we’ll credit you for the time you are signed off work.
As long as you have paid at least three months’ worth of contributions before the end of the relevant quarter, you’ll be entitled to sickness benefit credits.
Quarter you need to have paid contributions by
The table below shows how to find out the relevant quarter that affects your contributions. You can use this to work out if you are entitled to sickness benefit credits.
If Short Term Incapacity Allowance claim begins during: |
The relevant quarter that affects payment of benefit is: |
January, February or March |
July to September in the previous year |
April, May or June |
October to December in the previous year |
July, August or September |
January to March in the same year |
October, November or December |
April to June in the same year |