Carer Allowance

An additional fortnightly payment if you give daily care to someone who has a disability, serious illness, or is frail aged.

What is it?

An additional fortnightly payment if you give daily care to someone who has a disability, serious illness, or is frail aged.

Eligibility

You give extra care to someone who has a disability or severe illness or is frail aged
Their care needs 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 12 months or the rest of their life

The Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment that may be available in recognition of the care you provide. It can be paid in addition to the Carer Payment or another pension or benefit or if you do not receive any other benefits.

To be eligible for the Carer Allowance:

You must provide daily care, 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.
Both you and the person you care for must be Australian residents, currently living in Australia.

The Carer Allowance was not previously income and assets tested. However recent amendments introduced a fixed and non-indexed family income test of $250 000 per annum for Carer Allowance and Carer Allowance (child) Health Care Card only claimants, to apply to singles and couples from 20 September 2018. Carer Allowance is not taxed. Working or studying will not normally affect your eligibility.

Further information on eligibility https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/carer-allowance/eligibility/eligibility-rules

Payment Rates

If you’re providing care to someone 16 or older

Carer Allowance is $144.80 each fortnight. There is no Health Care Card for the person you provide care for.

If you’re providing care for a child under 16

Carer Allowance is either:

for a child with higher needs: $144.80 each fortnight and a Health Care Card for the child
for a child with lower needs: a Health Care Card for the child.

Shared care

If you share care of the child and the other parent is not your partner:

you get part of the payment
the other carer gets the rest, based on how much care you each provide.

Further Information

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/carer-allowance