Carer Supplement
Carer Supplement (CS) is an annual payment to assist carers with the costs of caring for a person with a disability or medical condition. Carer Supplement is paid to carers who receive an instalment of a qualifying payment for a period including 1 July each year. It is paid in addition to the eligible primary income support payment.
The National Carer Strategy, announced on 3 August 2011, includes an initiative to extend the Carer Supplement to carers whose income support payment has been reduced to nil on 1 July each year. For more information refer to the National Carer Strategy - frequently asked questions page.
Carer Supplement (CS) is an annual payment to assist carers with the costs of caring for a person with a disability or medical condition. Carer Supplement is paid to carers who receive an instalment of a qualifying payment for a period including 1 July each year. It is paid in addition to the eligible primary income support payment.
On this page
Eligibility
The Carer Supplement will be paid to people who on 1 July each year are recipients of:
- Carer Allowance Adult
- Carer Allowance Child
- Carer Payment
- Wife Pension (Age) with Carer Allowance
- Wife Pension (DSP) with Carer Allowance
- Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) Carer Service Pension
- Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) Partner Service Pension with Carer Allowance.
Payment rates
The Carer Supplement is an ongoing, non-indexed annual lump sum payment.
Eligible recipients of Carer Payment, Wife Pension (Age), Wife Pension (DSP), DVA Carer Service Pension and DVA Partner Service Pension receive $600.
All Carer Allowance recipients will receive a Carer Supplement up to $600 for each eligible person in their care. Some carers will receive 2 or more Carer Supplements and those receiving a part rate of Carer Allowance under shared care arrangements will receive a proportion of the Carer Supplement.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Carer Supplement start?
The Carer Supplement started June 2009.
Will I get a letter about it?
Yes, a letter will be sent to people who receive the Carer Supplement.
What do I have to do to get the payment?
Nothing. Centrelink will automatically make the payment into the bank account of eligible customers.
Can I receive the Child Disability Assistance Payment and Carer Supplement?
Yes, eligibility for Child Disability Assistance Payment (CDAP) is independent of eligibility for Carer Supplement.
Will the Carer Supplement be income managed?
Yes, the Carer Supplement is entirely income managed for income managed customers.
If I only have a Carer Allowance Health Care Card, do I get Carer Supplement?
No, you have to receive an instalment of the eligible payments to receive the Carer Supplement.
How does it work for shared care arrangements?
For Carer Allowance customers who receive a proportion of Carer Allowance because they share the care with another person, Carer Supplement will be paid in the same ratios as Carer Allowance under their existing arrangements.
Who can I talk to about these changes?
If you want to talk to someone about how these changes may affect you, call the Centrelink Disability and Carers line on 13 2717.