Time-0ff work (as unpaid leave)

Dear Sir / Madam, I have started a “time-off work” period (as “unpaid leave”), in order to care for my mother (who is an elderly lady). During this time-off work period (for an initial period of three years, but it may be longer), I am going to live in Spain, to be next to my mother. I would like to ask the following. 1) Whether my time-off work, in order to care for my mother, is considered as a “contributory period” for National Insurance purposes (that is, if the time-off work period is considered as "active period” for contributory purposes). 2) Whether my time-off work is taken into account for retirement or unemployment purposes. 3) Whether I am in a situation similar to “being affiliated” to the National Insurance scheme. The basis of my questions is that I need to know whether during my "time-off work" period I shall be affiliated to the National Insurance system, or will be considered to be in an equivalent situation. I am not in receipt of a salary at present, and I do not receive any benefits. I thank you very much in advance for your attention, since I am quite lost and my employer does not really know how to respond. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards.

Hi Amitia Wood,

If you are not receiving an income from your employer you will not be contributing towards your National Insurance records for benefit or pension purposes.
Your employer should be able to provide you with further information regarding your National Insurance position whilst you are on unpaid leave.
They can contact the Employers helpline for further advice on this if they are unable to answer your queries.
You may wish to contact the Department for Work and Pensions to ask if you would be entitled to any National Insurance credits whilst caring for your Mother, however this may not be possible whilst living in Spain. You can contact them on 0800 731 0297 for further information. Lines are open 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday; 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday.
You can also find information on GOV.UK about paying voluntary National Insurance contributions whilst abroad.
Please see further information in leaflet NI38  within the following link - Social Security abroad: NI38. This will provide you with further information on paying voluntary National Insurance contributions whilst abroad, and the CF83 also held within that link is the application you would complete if you want to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions.

Thank you

 

Thank you very much HMRC Admin 20, it was very helpful to know all that. I read on the internet that "carers allowance" and "carers credit" could be possible if one claims them from abroad, as long as one has lived in the UK during the last 2 years... Is that correct? I am interested to know as that would be my case. I only left the UK this summer, after living in the UK for many years. And also, could you please give me an alternative telephone number for the DWP, since 0800 telephone numbers do not seem to work when dialling them from abroad, which is a problem. Thanks a lot for any help. Kind regards.

Hi,

Unfortunately as Carers Allowance is administered by DWP, I am unable to confirm what the conditions are for claiming Carers Allowance from abroad.

For further guidance please see below. 

Carer's Allowance: How it works

There does not appear to be an alternative telephone number to contact them from abroad? I am sorry that we cannot be of further assistance for your questions or claim for Carers Allowance.

Thank you.