Eligibility
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Eligibility requirements
You may be eligible for Carer Payment (caring for a child under 16 years) if you provide constant care in the home of the child you care for, and they are:
- a single child under 16 years of age with a severe disability or a severe medical condition, or
- 2–4 children under 16 years of age with a disability or medical condition whose combined care needs are equal to that of a single child aged under 16 with a severe disability or a severe medical condition, or
- 1–2 children and an adult who each have a disability or medical condition and their combined care needs are equal to that of a single child with a severe disability or severe medical condition, or
- 2 or more children under 16 years of age with a severe disability or a severe medical condition in an exchanged care arrangement.
Exchanged care
Exchanged care is a situation where:
- you provide a significant level of care to 2 or more children with a severe disability or severe medical condition, and
- you exchange the care of these children with the other parent or legal guardian who you are not in a relationship with, and
- each of the children has a severe medical condition or severe disability, and
- you have a parenting plan, registered parenting plan, or court approved parenting plan that outlines your caring arrangements, and
- you and the other parent each provide a significant level of care to one of these children every day.
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Short-term and episodic conditions
Carer Payment is generally paid where a child requires care for 6 months or more. However, it can also be paid where a significant level of care for a child is required on a short term or episodic basis for a period of 3–6 months.
The difference between short term and episodic conditions is that short-term conditions are expected to be one-off, but episodic conditions are expected to recur. The child's treating doctor or specialist will advise on the medical report if the child’s condition is short-term or episodic.
Taking a break from caring
You can take a number of breaks from caring, up to 63 days per calendar year (1 January to 31 December) for respite and still be eligible for Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance (caring for a child under 16 years).
If the child goes into hospital
You can continue to receive Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance if the child you are caring for goes into hospital, as long as you continue to provide care for the child while they are in hospital and you intend to resume caring for the child when they return home. It is important that you tell us if this occurs. We will contact you after your child has been in hospital for a continuous period of 12 weeks.
Review of circumstances
From time to time, your Carer Payment is reviewed. The amount you receive may be adjusted because the circumstances of you or the child you care for have changed—for example, your income changes or the child stops needing your constant care.
If you receive Carer Payment because you are meeting children’s combined needs, they are required to have medical reviews every 2 years.
More information
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