Thousands of people are applying for National Insurance credits that can help boost state pensions for some grandparents. The credits are aimed at people below state pension age who want to build up—or protect—their state pension rights, including by filling gaps in National Insurance contributions. One reported focus is the Specified Adult Childcare credit, which may allow claims to be backdated to 6 April 2011. This backdating provision is part of the wider scheme that supports eligible caregivers and can affect the eventual level of state pension entitlement. While applications are being submitted in large numbers, the scheme applies only to those who meet the relevant eligibility conditions and who have gaps in their contribution record. Overall, the reporting describes the credits as a mechanism for improving pension forecasts and preventing missed entitlement, rather than a direct pension payment. The exact impact for individual applicants depends on whether they qualify and how their circumstances map to the credit rules.