Payment rate
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Payment rate
This payment rate of Carer Allowance (caring for a person 16 years or over) is effective from 1 January 2012.
The rate of Carer Allowance is $114.00 per fortnight.
If you are receiving a Carer Allowance payment on 1 July each year, you also receive an annual Carer Supplement of up to $600 for each person in your care who qualifies you for Carer Allowance.
Back payment
You may qualify for back payment of Carer Allowance for up to 12 weeks before you lodge your claim if, for example, the person you care for unexpectedly had a stroke, brain injury or heart attack.
Income and assets
You do not have to meet income or assets tests to receive Carer Allowance.
Shared care
If you share the caring role with someone who is not your partner, you may both be eligible for some Carer Allowance.
Tax
You do not have to pay tax on Carer Allowance.
Payment adjustments and reviews
Carer Allowance is usually adjusted on 1 January each year in line with the Consumer Price Index—that is, in line with increases in the costs of living.
From time to time, your Carer Allowance is reviewed. The amount you receive may be adjusted because the circumstances of you or the person you care for have changed—for example, another person also provides care or the person stops needing your care.
The person you care for will generally be reviewed every 2 years to check whether there are any changes to their medical condition.
Note: If the person you are caring for has a severe disability or medical condition and requires high care, they are unlikely to have many medical reviews.
More information
- A guide to Australian Government payments booklet
- Disability and Carer payment rates factsheet
- Carer Allowance (caring for a person 16 years or over) section
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