Caring

Carer payments

Centrelink supports carers with a range of payments:

• Carer Allowance (caring for a person over 16 years)
• Carer Payment (caring for a person over 16 years)
• Carer Allowance (caring for a child under 16 years)
• Carer Payment (caring for a child under 16 years)
• Carer Adjustment Payment

Combining caring and working

It can be difficult to find a job after being out of the workforce for a while.

Assistance is available for people who have been out of the workforce for 2 years or more because of their caring responsibilities.

Refer to Assistance for carers when looking for work for more information.

Services and programs

The government provides a range of services and programs for carers, including information and advice, respite services, and planning services.

Online services now available to nominees

You can now use online services to complete Centrelink business for yourself and the person/s you are nominee for.

Once registered for online services you can also subscribe to view and print online letters for a customer, if you are a nominee.

Other information

Other information you may find useful:

• Centrelink recognises same-sex relationships from 1 July 2009
• Help for people who are ill, injured or have a disability
• Accommodation and renting
• Fares Allowance
• Owing money to Centrelink or the Family Assistance Office
• Health Care Cards

Avoid a Centrelink debt

Centrelink's here to help, but there are lots of things that can affect your payment.

Avoid a debt by letting us know when your situation changes.

Centrelink contacts

You can contact Centrelink in lots of ways:

• Phone us
• Write to us
• Visit us
• Message us

For more information and assistance from Centrelink, refer to Contact Us.

Making a claim for payment

You may need to complete several forms to make a claim.

View Claim forms if you are caring for someone who is frail aged, ill or has a disability for more information.

Listed below are the 2 main claim forms for carers:

• Claim for Carer Allowance and/or Carer Payment - caring for a child under 16 years form
• Claim for Carer Allowance and/or Carer Payment - caring for a person 16 years or over form

Publications

Listed below are publications you may find useful:

• Caring for someone? Booklet
• Changes to Carer Payment - caring for a child under 16 years Factsheet
• Carer Payment or Age Pension? Factsheet
• Do you receive Carer Allowance for a child about to turn 16? Factsheet
• Carer Allowance — caring for someone 16 years or over that you do not live with Factsheet

To find out more, view Publications if you are caring for frail aged, ill or disabled persons.

Direct bill-paying service

Centrepay is a free direct bill-paying service offered to customers receiving payments from Centrelink.

Through Centrepay you can choose to pay bills by having a regular amount deducted from your Centrelink payment.

News for Carers Newsletter

News for Carers Newsletter keeps carers up-to-date with changes to payments and provides useful information from Centrelink and the wider community.

• News for Carers Newsletter

Centrelink Confirmation eServices

We want you to step out of line...

Now you don't have to line up at Centrelink to get your Income Statement when applying for concessions or services — Centrelink Confirmation eServices can do it for you.

To find out more about applying for concessions or services, refer to Centrelink Confirmation eServices page.

Useful links for carers

Refer to Useful website links to find other resources on the web for carers.

Changes to Carer Payment (caring for a child under 16 years) from 1 July 2009

The Australian Government recognises the importance of improving the support and services available to carers. From 1 July 2009, changes have been introduced to Carer Payment (caring for a child under 16 years), which will allow more carers to access Carer Payment and will improve support for existing customers.

To learn more about these payment changes, refer to Changes to Carer Payment (caring for a child under 16 years) from 1 July 2009.