Childcare as a credit for social care

This is a fantastic idea, though how it could be managed, I'm not sure. We could earn credits for all sorts: child care, volunteering, looking after aged parents; anything which helps save the state money could be credited for when we might need it. We won't all need it, so we could pass them on.

It's a good idea was floated sometime back by politicians and I wondered at the time how on earth they would manage it but I would be behind it 100%

I think that is a fantastic idea, the government need to recognise the work done by all carers!

I know part of my state pension is paid because I was credited with Home Responsibility Credits when I stayed at home to look after my children but did not claim any benefits - I'd guess that's an element in many of the pensions paid to women of our generation. Couldn't something similar be devised to cover this excellent suggestion?

Think it's a marvellous idea - but as has been said 'How can it be organised?'

It is a great idea that has been mentioned a while ago,lets get some
organised "Gransnetters" to set it up then there is no chance of the so
called polititions messing it up,it could be managed the same way as maybe
child benifit where you register your NI no against the relevant childs name
and your credits tie up with that child or children,how easy is that (is there
a job going at No 11)

Home responsibility credits came in in 1978 but there are conditions attached to this which appear to have changed over time. So I'm not quite sure if all mothers who stayed home with their children qualify. I tried the government pensions web page but I'm not sure I understood all the conditions. I agree though that those of us who save other tax-payers money by caring for our grandchildren should be credited for our future needs. A simple register using our NI numbers cross referenced with child benefit numbers is one cheap and efficient way to claim the credits.

Yes. What a great idea

I'm afraid I don't think it as simple as all that. I'm NOT suggesting that anyone on THIS site would do it but ... as we wouldn't be clocking in and out, what's to stop anyone declaring that they've 'child-minded' 5 hours this week when, in actual fact, it's been a saturday night from 8pm. In my mind that's baby sitting BUT there will always be someone who abuses a system.
That's not to say it's not a good idea but more thought has to go in to HOW grand-parents can 'clock in and out'.
I share a home with my daughter and grand-daughter. I could add up a hundred hours a week (perhaps a little exaggeration there!) with all the little 2 minutes here and there - for example, Mummy in the shower, baby would like a drink or Mummy on the telephone, baby would like ... you see what I mean! Someone else in the same position could end up with the Ritz of all care systems and that would be really unfair. If I wasn't here our baby would be used to waiting for Mummy to finish in the shower (or Mummy would be more organised in making sure baby has everything she requires before stepping in to the shower!) so I'm NOT child-minding in those moments, I'm 'sticking my oar in'!! It would be wrong to use those moments but, as I say, there would be someone who does.

Yes, I would wonder about how it would actually work:
To take Heather's point a step further - if your child worked shifts, then they may be at work at 8pm on Saturday, so is it baby-sitting or child-care?

I don't mean to be a damp squib - as one of the very first mums to benefit from Home Responsibility credits, and having seen the sacrifices some grandparents make for their families, I would love to see something work.

The only thing that I can think of is an extension to the Home Responsibility credit - at the moment it can be credited to either parent. I would think that it would be fairly simple to allow it to be shifted to another person such as a grandparent.
However, any legislation creates difficulties: what about the woman you regard as your gran, but who is not actually your legal relative? What about your aunt or cousin?
At the moment it works for a "whole family" - what if one gran looked after one child and another cared for the sibling?
It is possible, but would take some drafting!