UK: Carers Allowance. Attendance Allowance
Two benefits. One for the Caregiver and the other for those receiving care.
Dear Readers
This information is quoted directly from several sources to ensure accuracy. (Carers Week June 10 - 16)
These two UK benefits are NOT means tested. Other care support and benefits can be means-tested. This AGE UK page provides some information on this.
Unpaid carers receive less than the National Living Wage in 2024.
Carers UK information. The telephone Helpline is available on 0808 808 7777
mobilise. has a summary of the information, including how to make a claim.
For Caregivers - What is Carer’s Allowance?
If you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with an illness or disability, you may be eligible for extra money called Carer’s Allowance.
It is paid at a rate of £81.90 per week (2024/25).
Who can claim Carer's Allowance?
• You look after someone for at least 35 hours a week.
• You don’t earn more than £151 per week (after deductions including tax, national insurance and certain expenses). Find out more about the earnings limit.
• The person you care for receives a disability benefit (see below).
• You’re aged 16 or over.
• You’re not in full-time education.
• You meet UK residence and presence conditions and UK immigration conditions – Citizens Advice has detailed information on this. Contact Advice NI if you live in Northern Ireland.For more details about each of the above requirements, read on and take a look at our Carer's Allowance factsheet.
Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit - it is considered income. This may affect how much a carer receives from other benefits, such as Universal Credit.
The Carer Mentor Calculation:
IF you’re eligible you’d receive £81.90, IF you can work to earn ONLY £151 that’s £232.90 for 35 hours of caregiving.
This means for caring for your loved one, you COULD receive £6.65 per hour.
The National Living Minimum wage for 21-year-olds and older is £11.44.
If you get State Pension you cannot get the full amount of both Carer's Allowance and your State Pension at the same time.
A key points to note - From the UK Government Website.
If your pension is £81.90 a week or more, you will not get a Carer's Allowance payment.
If your pension is less than £81.90 a week, you'll get a Carer's Allowance payment to make up the difference.
For those receiving care - What is Attendance Allowance?
If you have a long-term illness or disability and you’ve reached State Pension age, you may be entitled to a benefit called Attendance Allowance.
To find out more about this benefit and if you or a loved one might be eligible to receive it, read more below.
If you’re under State Pension age, you may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
If you’re 16 or under, you may be eligible for Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Attendance Allowance is extra money if you have a long-term physical or mental condition or disability. It doesn’t matter what your condition is – what matters is how it affects you. If you’ve reached State Pension age and need help with personal care, or need support to check you’re ok, you may be eligible.
Attendance Allowance isn’t means-tested, so it doesn’t matter what your income or savings are. You can get Attendance Allowance even if you’re working or studying.
If you’re awarded Attendance Allowance, you can spend it on whatever you want that makes life easier. You don’t have to spend it on paying for care. However, your local council or trust can take Attendance Allowance into account when working out how much you need to pay for care services.
Getting Attendance Allowance won’t reduce your other benefits. In fact, it could even increase them. If you have a carer, claiming Attendance Allowance may help them qualify for benefits such as Carer’s Allowance. You and/or your carer may be entitled to other extra help too.
If you’re a carer, with a long-term condition or disability, you can claim Attendance Allowance for yourself and it won’t affect any Carer’s Allowance you may be receiving.
For 2024/25, the rates are: Higher £108.55 per week, Lower £72.65 per week
You’ll receive the higher rate if you need help or supervision during the day and at night, or if you’re terminally ill.
You’ll receive the lower rate if you need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.
Carer Mentor Reflections
Imagine yourself still in turmoil after a medical change in your loved one’s health, trying to navigate all this.
I recommend contacting Carers UK helpline to discuss your specific situation. They are trained to support people who are trying to understand the complex system, the forms and what someone can expect. Don’t try to do this alone.
Carers UK Helpline. The telephone Helpline is available on 0808 808 7777 from Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm (excluding Bank Holidays) or you can contact them by email (advice@carersuk.org).
The NHS itself is beyond breaking point. We experience waiting lists, long waits at A&E, and unsafe discharges where individuals feel pushed to go home so their bed is released for the next person.
‘Unpaid carers’ feels like normalising an unjust phenomenon and practice. Why are we normalising that carers do not receive a basic wage-benefit?
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