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Carer's Allowance vs Attendance Allowance

Compare Carer's Allowance and Attendance Allowance — one is for carers, the other for the person receiving care. Learn how they work together.

Carer's Allowance

Maximum amount

Up to £81.90/week

Means-tested

No

Age group

Working age (16+, no upper age limit to claim)

Key features

  • For the person providing care
  • Must care for someone at least 35 hours per week
  • The person cared for must receive a qualifying disability benefit
  • Earnings limit of £151/week after deductions
  • Provides National Insurance credits
  • May affect other benefits through overlapping benefit rules

Attendance Allowance

Maximum amount

Up to £110.40/week

Means-tested

No

Age group

State Pension age and over (65+)

Key features

  • For the person receiving care
  • Based on care or supervision needs, not the care received
  • No requirement to actually have a carer
  • No earnings or employment restrictions
  • Can be a gateway benefit for Pension Credit and Council Tax Reduction
  • Paper-based assessment — no routine face-to-face assessment

Key Differences

Who receives it

Carer's Allowance

The person providing care (the carer)

Attendance Allowance

The person who needs care (the disabled or elderly person)

Purpose

Carer's Allowance

Recognises the contribution of carers and the impact on their earning capacity

Attendance Allowance

Helps with the extra costs of needing care due to a disability or health condition

Earnings limit

Carer's Allowance

Cannot earn more than £151/week after deductions

Attendance Allowance

No earnings limit — can have any income

Link to disability benefits

Carer's Allowance

Can only be claimed if the person cared for receives a qualifying disability benefit

Attendance Allowance

Is itself one of the qualifying disability benefits that enables a carer to claim Carer's Allowance

Assessment

Carer's Allowance

No health assessment — based on caring hours and the cared-for person's benefits

Attendance Allowance

Based on care needs — usually a paper-based assessment

Which Could Be Right for You?

These benefits are designed for different people in a caring relationship. Attendance Allowance is for the person who needs care — they apply based on their own care needs. Carer's Allowance is for the person providing the care. Often, the person receiving care applies for Attendance Allowance first, and once this is awarded, their carer may then be eligible to claim Carer's Allowance. Both benefits can be received at the same time by different people in the same household.

Can You Claim Both?

Yes, but they are claimed by different people. The person needing care could receive Attendance Allowance, and the person caring for them could receive Carer's Allowance. In fact, Attendance Allowance is one of the qualifying disability benefits that enables a carer to claim Carer's Allowance. One person cannot receive both benefits themselves — Carer's Allowance is for the carer, and Attendance Allowance is for the person being cared for.

Learn More About Each Benefit

Carer's Allowance

Up to £81.90/week · Working age (16+, no upper age limit to claim)

View benefit details

Attendance Allowance

Up to £110.40/week · State Pension age and over (65+)

View benefit details

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my carer need to live with me for them to claim Carer's Allowance?
No, the person claiming Carer's Allowance does not need to live with the person they care for. They also do not need to be related to them. The main requirements are that they provide care for at least 35 hours per week and the person they care for receives a qualifying disability benefit such as Attendance Allowance, PIP daily living component, or DLA middle or highest rate care component.
Will my Attendance Allowance be reduced if my carer claims Carer's Allowance?
No, your Attendance Allowance is not reduced if your carer claims Carer's Allowance. However, if you receive a severe disability premium or severe disability addition as part of another benefit (such as Pension Credit), this element may be affected if someone claims Carer's Allowance for looking after you. It is worth checking how this might affect your overall benefits before your carer makes a claim.
Can I get Carer's Allowance if I am over State Pension age?
You can claim Carer's Allowance at any age, including over State Pension age. However, if you receive a State Pension, the overlapping benefit rules mean you may not receive Carer's Allowance as a separate payment if your State Pension is equal to or more than the Carer's Allowance rate. Even so, it may still be worth claiming because having an underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance can increase your Pension Credit through the carer addition.

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Important: Benefits Robin is not affiliated with the DWP or UK Government. We provide information and assistance, not legal or financial advice. These are estimates based on your answers. Final decisions are made by the DWP.