Aged care

Support for carers

15 July 2019

Hank Jongen

Hank Jongen is General Manager at the Department of Human Services.

If your client is currently caring for a friend or loved one, they may be eligible for a range of income support payments and services, such as Carer Payment or Carer Allowance.

We value the contribution that carers make to the community, and recognise that sometimes carers need assistance too.

 The Department of Human Services supports over 600,000 carers who provide additional daily care and attention for an adult or a child with a disability or medical condition or an adult who is aged and frail.

If your client is currently caring for a friend or loved one, they may be eligible for a range of income support payments and services, such as Carer Payment or Carer Allowance.

Carer Payment provides income support to people who, because of the demands of their caring role, are unable to support themselves through substantial paid employment. It is a fortnightly payment that includes entitlement to a Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card. To be eligible for Carer Payment, a carer must be providing constant care for an adult or child and meet an income and assets test.

Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment for carers who provide additional daily care and attention for an adult or child with a disability or a medical condition, or an adult who is ‘frail aged’. Carer Allowance is not taxable or assets tested. However, Carer Allowance is income tested. It can be paid in addition to wages, or an income support payment.

To find out about what payments your client might be eligible for, use the Payment Finder tool.

People can put in their details and the Payment Finder suggests what payments may suit their circumstances.

It is also now possible to complete a claim for Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance online by visiting the Department’s website or by using self-service terminals at our local service centres.

If your client is unable to claim online, they can call us on 132 717 or visit their local service centre where our staff will assist them with their claim.

I also have a reminder for people who currently receive Carers Allowance. If your client received an SMS or letter from us asking them to do an income review, then they need to complete it and return it to us as soon as possible so their payments continue.

The easiest way for your client to do the review is online using their Centrelink online account through myGov. If they can’t do it online, they can complete the Carer Allowance adjusted taxable income details form and hand it in along with any other documents we ask for at their nearest service centre or by sending them to the address provided.