Being a carer is hard enough without worrying about the different types of payments- carer payment and allowance. Here, we will go through these payments, along with who qualifies, how much payment is received how one can apply for this supplement. Keep on reading to find out the answers to these questions.
Carer payment
Those who are eligible for carer payment are individuals or parties who provide full-time care of:
- someone with a disability
- individuals with a severe illness
- one who is frailly aged
- 2- 4 children younger than 16 whose needs adds up to the same as 1 child with severe needs
- 1 or 2 children younger than 16 and 1 adult whose needs total the same as 1 child with severe needs
Furthermore, to be eligible, you need to:
- meet an income and assets test
- care for a person, or people, who have been assessed as meeting the minimum disability score assessed through the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT) or Carer Needs Assessments (must be a minor under 16 years old); a health professional currently treating the person must complete these forms
- must not be in employment, in education or partaking for more than 25 hours a week
It is important to note that there are different rates of payment for single and partnered people. Furthermore, certain individuals can get income support payments each week as opposed to each fortnight.
Carer allowance
Carer allowance consists of fortnightly payments to carers of an individual who holds severe disability or illness, or one who is frailly aged to assist with additional costs of living. This is on top of their usual costs of daily living.
To be eligible for this allowance, you must first:
- satisfy the needs of an income test
- care for someone who holds a care score high enough on the adult or child assessment tools
- care for someone who will be holding these needs for a minimum of 12 months
So… what is the difference between the 2?
Essentially, carer allowance is a payment that is received on top of the usual costs of day-to-day living. On the other hand, carer payment is the basic cost of living.
How much payment will I receive in 2022?
CARER ALLOWANCE
As long as you meet the requirements of the income test, your income will no longer affect how much Carer Allowance you are eligible to. The amount you receive will not be added to your taxable income. However, these rates are reviewed by the Department of Social Services each year on the 1st of January.
If care is provided to a child under 16 years old with higher needs, the payment is $131.90 per fortnight and a health care card specifically for the child.
For a child with lower needs and requirements, the child receives a health care card.
If the care is provided for someone over 16 years old, the Carer Allowance is $131.90 each fortnight. Also, ensure to note that there is no Health Care card for the person that care is being provided to.
CARER PAYMENT
The rates for payment differ between single and coupled people. These rates are reviewed by the Department of Social Services on the 20th March and the 20th September annually. However, these payments vary much more greatly than carer allowance. Visit them here for a comprehensive list.
Economics support payment
This is an added bonus on top of the payment if you qualify for this. It is added to your bank account automatically. These are payments paid as part of the COVID- 19 stimulus and financial aid however, note that most eligible individuals have already been paid.
How do I apply?
For the carer allowance, you must first check if you are eligible, by going through the checklist above, or you may take one online just to be certain.
Then, from here- you must:
- Log into myGov and visit Centrelink
- Choose the option of making a claim or viewing the claim status from your homepage
- From here, select get started from the carer menu
- Select Carer Allowance
- Ensure you answer the eligibility check first
- Now, you may begin your claim and answer questions about the situation
- Review and confirm your claim
Should there be additional info, the website will let you know.
Also be aware that…
This extra money, particularly from Carer allowance can be used to further the home interior and exterior, as an example- to continue to make your home disability-friendly and entirely to your liking! There are other options that this money can go towards in differing circumstances such as:
However, ensure that you carefully understand what is subsidised by NDIS and what is not, before spending these additional carer funds.
Next steps!
Find out if you’re applicable now, because, who doesn’t love some extra money to help those around them? If you are eligible, ensure that you apply as soon as possible.
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