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Grandparents and carers who raise and care for children:

Grandparents often find themselves in the parenting role for their grandchildren. They may face a number of challenges and find that their life has changed significantly when they need to provide care for their grandchildren. This new caring role may be taken on as, for example, a result of parental disability, death, imprisonment, substance abuse and child neglect, abuse or abandonment.

If you are a grandparent or carer who has taken on responsibility of caring for children and are unsure of what you may be entitled to, the question and answers below may assist you. This information will also be of interest if you are raising or caring for a child in a foster care or extended family care arrangement. In all cases, eligibility for assistance will be assessed by the Family Assistance Office, Centrelink.

• The "Are you a grandparent (or relative) caring for children" brochure provides information about the Centrelink assistance and Medicare benefits you may receive if you are a grandparent or relative carer and you have day-to-day care and responsibility for a child or children. This brochure is available at Centrelink Customer Service Centres or from the publications page of our website.
• Questions and Answers about grandparents and carers who raise and care for children.

In all cases, eligibility for assistance will be assessed by the Family Assistance Office.

For more information, telephone the Family Assistance Office at Centrelink on 13 6150, or visit your nearest Family Assistance Office located at Centrelink Customer Service Centres.