NIM41105 - Credits: pre-1975 credits: overview
Under the 1948 National Insurance Scheme credits were normally equivalent to a Class 1, 2 or Class 3 contribution (or stamp) and counted towards the same range of benefits as the contribution normally paid by the customer.
However, some credits could only be used towards short term benefits.
To be entitled to a “benefit” credit the customer normally had to have a recent link to insurable employment and have satisfied the contribution conditions for the associated benefit. There were only very limited exceptions, prescribed in regulations.
Other credits were awarded for a range of reasons: