Initial contact by a carer 009-01010000
Comparing Carer Payment (CP) with Carer Allowance (CA)
Item |
Question |
Carer Payment (CP) |
Carer Allowance (CA) |
1 |
Is it an income support payment? |
CP is an income support payment. |
CA is not an income support payment. |
2 |
Is the payment income/assets tested? |
Yes, and an income/assets test also applies to care receivers who are not in receipt of an income support payment. |
Income-tested only. CA is not taxable or assets tested. There is an income test. To be eligible for CA, the carer’s and their partner’s combined adjusted taxable income must be under $250,000 a year. This includes deemed amount from account-based income streams if the account holder is 60 years of age or older. The same income limit applies if the carer does not have a partner. The income test does not affect the rate of CA that is paid. CA can be paid in addition to wages or an income support payment. The CA income test does not apply to carers who are exempt from providing their CA income details. |
3 |
What care must be provided? |
The care provided must be constant (on a daily basis for a significant period equivalent to a normal working day).
|
The carer must provide care and attention on a daily basis in a private home that is the home of either the carer(s) and/or the care receiver.
|
4 |
What rules apply to absences? |
See Absences for Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA).
|
See Absences for Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA).
|
5 |
Can the carer work/train/study without affecting eligibility? |
Yes, the carer can participate in employment, education or training if the activity (or activities), including travel time, do not exceed 25 hours per week. |
Yes, the carer can work/train/study for an unlimited number of hours, as long as they are still providing the required level of personal care and attention on a daily basis. |
6 |
Who can be cared for? |
CP is payable to carers of:
|
CA is payable to carers of:
If the carer is paid Carer Allowance (child) (manual) and has a Health Care Card (HCC) the carer may receive payment until a care receiver is 16 years and 3 months. Entitlement to HCC only Carer Allowance (child) will cease on the care receiver's 16th birthday. See Eligibility for Carer Allowance (CA). Advise carers receiving CA that care receivers aged 16 or over may be eligible for an income support payment. Care receivers should be directed to the Services Australia Website to explore payment options available. Customers can apply for a payment or concession card online. |
7 |
What are the qualifications for an adult care receiver? |
The carer cares for:
See Eligibility for Carer Payment (CP) when a care receiver is aged 16 years or over. |
The carer cares for an adult who has an Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT) score of 30 or more and their disability or medical condition is considered permanent or expected to continue for 12 months or more. See Eligibility for Carer Allowance (CA) when the care receiver is aged 16 years or over. |
8 |
What are the qualifications for a child care receiver? |
CP (child) should be considered when the carer cares for:
Qualifications for carers who were granted Carer Payment (child) under the Disability Carer Load Assessment (child) Determination (DCLAD) (2009) between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010 will have their qualification preserved until they are selected for review or lose qualification. See Eligibility for Carer Payment (CP) when a care receiver is aged under 16. |
See Eligibility for Carer Allowance (CA) (child) when a customer is claiming or receiving CA only. |
9 |
Can separate payments be made to 2 or more carers in respect of the same care receiver? |
Adult: Yes, if the ADAT score equals or exceeds the minimum score for 2 or more carers to qualify. ADAT score of above 80 with a THP score of 32 or more. Child: Yes, if the THP confirms more than 1 carer is required to provide the amount of daily care and each carer meets all other qualification criteria. |
No, but a single rate of payment may be shared between 2 carers when the care is shared. |
10 |
What concession cards are available? |
Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) for carer. CP (child) carers who provide short term and episodic care customers will receive a HCC with entitlement for the dates of the short term or episodic care. See: |
Health Care Card (HCC), in the child care receiver's name, is available to carers of children under 16 where the child is a disabled child who has a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability which is permanent or to last for an extended period (more than 12 months) or requires extra care and attention for 14 hours or more per week. Once a care receiver child turns 16, they may be eligible for an ex-care receiver Health Care Card (SS456). To be eligible, they need to be aged 16-25 years, a full-time student who has a disability or medical condition that previously qualified their carer for CA (child) on the day before they turned 16. Child care receivers who qualify their carer for CA (auto) are eligible for an HCC in their name in addition to any Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) that is issued to the carer. |
11 |
What income and assets tests apply? |
The carer is subject to the Pensions Income and Assets Test. If Services Australia does not have current information about the carer (and their partner's) income and assets, the person claiming CP must complete an Income and Assets form (SA369). If the care receiver (16 years and over) is not in receipt of an income support payment from the agency or the Department of Veterans' Affairs, they are also required to supply their income and assets details (form SA304A). |
CA is not taxable or assets tested. There is an income test. To be eligible for CA, the carer’s and their partner’s combined adjusted taxable income must be under $250,000 a year. This includes deemed amount from account-based income streams if the account holder is 60 years of age or older. The same income limit applies if the carer does not have a partner. The income test does not affect the rate of CA that is paid. CA can be paid in addition to wages or an income support payment. The CA income test does not apply to carers who are exempt from providing their CA income details. |
12 |
Are customers eligible for Working Credit? |
Carers of workforce age receiving CP are eligible for Working Credit. |
Carers receiving CA are not eligible for Working Credit. |
13 |
Is an advance payment available? |
Yes, determined by the Advance Payment Qualifying Amount (APQA). |
No lump sum advance. |
14 |
Are arrears payable? |
No arrears payable for CP (adult). |
No arrears payable for CA. |
15 |
Is the payment taxable? |
Carer Payment is taxable where either the carer or care receiver are over Age Pension age. |
Carer Allowance is non-taxable. |
16 |
Is the customer eligible for the Pension Supplement? |
CP recipients of any age may be eligible for Pension Supplement. |
CA recipients are not eligible for the Pension Supplement. |
17 |
Does the newly arrived resident's waiting period apply? |
Yes, unless the carer has a Visa Subclass 16 or 836 or holds a permanent refugee visa. See Residence assessment for customers claiming Carer Payment (CP). |
A waiting period for Carer Allowance was introduced on 1 January 2019. For more information, See Residence assessment for customers claiming Carer Allowance CA. |
18 |
What are the rates of payment? |
Standard pension rates. See Pension payments in the Rates Chart |
See Carer Allowance in the Rates Chart |