A family could receive a combined £201.05 a week if an older person claims Attendance Allowance and their carer, who can be as young as 16, makes a separate claim for Carer’s Allowance. At 2026/27 rates, Attendance Allowance is worth up to £114.60 a week, while Carer’s Allowance is £86.45 a week.
Attendance Allowance is for someone who has reached state pension age and needs help or supervision due to an illness, disability, or health condition. The carer does not need to be a pensioner. An eligible carer can be as young as 16 and may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance separately.
These are two different benefits claimed by two different people. The combined total of £201.05 a week will not be right for every household, and the effect on existing benefits must be checked before a Carer’s Allowance claim is made.
Who can receive Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is available to someone who has reached state pension age and has a physical or mental disability or health condition severe enough that they need help caring for themselves or supervision to keep themselves or someone else safe. Normally, the person must have needed that support for at least six months. Different rules apply to people nearing the end of life, who may be able to claim more quickly at the higher rate.
The claimant does not need to have a formal carer, and they do not need to be receiving all the help they require. Eligibility is based on the help or supervision they reasonably need, not simply the assistance they currently receive. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, so earnings and savings do not affect the award. It is also tax-free.
For 2026/27, it is paid at two weekly rates: £76.70 at the lower rate for someone who needs frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night; and £114.60 at the higher rate for someone who needs help or supervision throughout both the day and night, or who qualifies under the special rules for people nearing the end of life. The payment does not include a separate mobility component, but it can be used towards the additional costs created by the person’s condition.
The carer can be under state pension age
While the person claiming Attendance Allowance must have reached state pension age, the carer does not have to be the same age. A carer may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance from age 16 if they spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit, including Attendance Allowance.
The carer does not have to be related to the person and does not have to live with them. Care can include cooking, taking someone to medical appointments, shopping, managing bills, and helping with household tasks. A daughter who calls her father every morning, shops and cooks for him, manages his medication, takes him to appointments, handles his paperwork, and remains available in case he falls may already be providing well over 35 hours of support.
For a Carer’s Allowance claim in England or Wales, all the following will normally need to apply: the carer is aged 16 or over; they spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone; the person they care for receives a qualifying disability benefit; their earnings are £204 or less a week after tax, National Insurance, and certain allowable expenses; they are not in full-time education; they are not studying for 21 hours a week or more; and they satisfy the relevant residence and immigration rules.
Check before the carer makes a claim
A Carer’s Allowance claim can affect benefits received by both the carer and the person being cared for. If the older person receives a severe disability premium with another benefit, or an additional amount for severe disability through Pension Credit, that payment will usually stop when someone is paid Carer’s Allowance for caring for them. Their Council Tax support could also be affected. The carer’s Universal Credit will usually be reduced by an amount equal to their Carer’s Allowance payment, but they may also qualify for the additional carer element of Universal Credit.
This does not automatically mean making a claim will leave the household worse off. Both people’s circumstances should be considered together. Before applying, use an independent benefits calculator or speak to Citizens Advice, Age UK, Carers UK, or a local welfare-rights adviser. Make sure the adviser knows about every benefit received by both the prospective carer and the person requiring care.
A person can still claim Carer’s Allowance after reaching state pension age, but overlapping benefit rules mean they will not normally receive the full amounts of both their state pension and Carer’s Allowance. If their state pension is £86.45 a week or more, they will not usually receive a separate Carer’s Allowance payment. If their pension is lower, Carer’s Allowance may make up part of the difference. However, they may still have an “underlying entitlement” to Carer’s Allowance, which can sometimes increase Pension Credit or another means-tested benefit.
How to complete the Attendance Allowance form
Attendance Allowance applications focus on how a condition affects everyday life, rather than the name of the diagnosis alone. Explain what happens on difficult days, how often support is required, what could happen without supervision, and how long everyday tasks take. Relevant needs might include help getting in or out of bed, washing, dressing, using the toilet, preparing and eating food, remembering or safely taking medication, moving around the home, communicating with other people, coping with confusion or distress, supervision to prevent falls, and help required during the night.
Even if the person somehow completes a task alone, describe any pain, danger, exhaustion, or excessive time involved. A diary covering several days can help establish the true pattern. Supporting information from a GP, nurse, occupational therapist, or another professional may also be useful.
An Attendance Allowance claim does not generally begin from the date the person first became unwell. For an online application, the claim starts on the date it is submitted. If a form is printed and posted, it normally starts on the date the Department for Work and Pensions receives it. If the claimant calls the Attendance Allowance helpline and asks for a form, the claim can begin from the date of that call, provided the completed form is returned within six weeks.
In Scotland, new applicants claim Pension Age Disability Payment instead of Attendance Allowance, and carers normally apply for Carer Support Payment instead of Carer’s Allowance. Northern Ireland continues to have Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance, but claims are handled through the Northern Ireland benefits system rather than the Department for Work and Pensions application process used in England and Wales.
The easiest way to remember the rule is this: Attendance Allowance belongs to the older person who needs help or supervision. Carer’s Allowance belongs to the eligible person providing at least 35 hours of care. The first person must have reached state pension age. The second person does not have to have done so. Neither benefit is automatic, and an Attendance Allowance award will not automatically trigger a payment to the person providing care, so a separate Carer’s Allowance claim must be considered.
