Payments
Eligibility
You may be eligible for Carer Payment (caring for a person 16 years or over) if you provide constant care in the home of the person you care for, and they are:
- aged 16 years of age or over with a severe disability, medical condition or are frail aged, or
- aged 16 years of age or over with moderate care needs and have a dependent child who is either under 6 years of age or 6–16 years of age and eligible for Carer Allowance (caring for a child under 16 years).
The person you care for must also either:
- receive an income support payment from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, or
- be unable to receive an income support payment from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs because they have not lived in Australia long enough to be eligible, or
- meet the special care receiver income and assets tests.
If the person you care for goes into respite care or hospital
You can still receive Carer Payment for up to 63 days in a calendar year if the person you care for is in respite care, as well as 63 days in a calendar year if the person you care for is in hospital.
Review of circumstances
The person you care for will generally have their circumstances reviewed every 2 years to check whether there are any changes to their caring arrangements or medical condition. Medical reviews are not generally required where the person you are caring for has a severe disability or medical condition and requires high care.