An income support payment if you give constant care to someone who has a severe disability, illness, or an adult who is frail and old.
What is it?
An income support payment if you give constant care to someone who has a severe disability, illness, or an adult who is frail and old.
Eligibility
- You are caring for 1 or more people with care needs which score high enough on the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT) or Disability Care Load Assessment (Child) (DCLA)
- They will have these needs for at least 6 months or the rest of their life
- Under the pension income and assets test limits
- You and the person receiving care must both be residing in Australia
The Carer Payment can provide you with income support if you are unable to work because of the demands of your caring role.
To be eligible for the Carer Payment:
- You need to provide full time care over an extended period of time for a person with a disability or chronic illness, mental illness, or who is frail aged. You do not have to live with the person you care for, but you need to live within a reasonable distance and provide 'constant' care, usually interpreted as equivalent to a full day's work.
- Both you and the person you care must be Australian residents, currently living in Australia.
- You, your employed spouse or partner (if you have one) and the person you care for must all meet the income and assets test for the payment. If you earn income or own property, savings or investments above a particular amount (the ‘threshold’), you may not be eligible.
- You must not spend more than 25 hours a week away from caring (including travel) to do:
- paid work
- volunteer work
- study
- training
Centrelink can be flexible about some of the eligibility rules particularly if the person you care for has high care needs or if you care for more than one person. Contact them to discuss your individual situation.
Further information on eligibility
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/carer-payment/eligibility
Payment rates
For the up-to-date rates of payment, please click link below;
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/enablers/how-much-carer-payment-you-can-get/39536
Further Information
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/carer-payment
