Carer Payment (CP) (child) short term care 009-04070010

CP (child) - short term care may apply if all of the following apply:

• when a care receiver aged under 16 years has a severe disability or severe medical condition
• it is expected to be short term - that is, at least 3 months duration but less than 6 months, with the period of care calculated from the person's start day (not before)
• it is expected to be a one-off occurrence (i.e. it is not expected to re-occur)

In addition to the above, to be eligible under the short term care provisions:

• the carer must personally provide constant care to the care receiver
• the care provided to the care receiver attains a qualifying rating of intense
• the provision of the care by the person must severely restrict the person's capacity to undertake paid employment
• the carer must complete the usual carer assessment process
• the carer must meet the required threshold for the level of care being provided to the care receiver, assessed Disability Care Load Assessment (child) Determination (DCLAD (2020)

A carer claiming CP (child) - short term care will be required to complete an online claim or relevant forms. See Claiming Carer Payment (CP) and/or Carer Allowance (CA)

• Claimants will also be asked if they require referral to support services
• Carers may lodge an early claim to test their eligibility for CP (child) for short term care up to 13 weeks before the start of the period of care

Note: short term care may become episodic care if the care receiver has a repeat of the same condition, with no break in entitlement, and confirmed by a Treating Health Professional (THP) - new claim or medical certificate. The THP must also change the diagnosis to episodic. This situation will count towards long term care eligibility if the continuous period is 6 months or more.

CA (child) will automatically be paid to customers receiving CP - (child) short term care for the same period, but only if the carer or another person is not already receiving mainstream CA (child) for that care receiver, or CA is not payable for another reason (e.g. cancelled due to respite bank exceeded).

CA (auto) child care receivers are eligible for a Health Care Card (HCC) in their name in addition to any Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) or HC held by the carer. Normal concession card hierarchy rules apply.

In the following care situations, CP (child) may include 1 or more children assessed under the short term care provisions - this would limit the grant to short term care for:

• 2 or more children each with a disability or medical condition (combined care), or
• a disabled adult and 1 or more children with a disability or medical condition (multiple care)

The system will ensure that the period of care advised by the THP is more than 3 months and that the actual period between the dates does not equal or exceed 6 months.

If it does, the Service Officer will be asked to confirm that the period of care exceeds 6 months and transfer the claim to long term CP.

If the carer provides a Medical Certificate for Carer Payment for a child under 16 years (SA395) completed by a THP for a further period of care, an extension can be approved.

• The short term period of grant can be extended if the assessment of the condition and care load (and therefore date of THP report or medical certificate) is dated before the care receiver's 16th birthday
• There is no limit on the number of extensions for short term grants. However, once a continuous period of grant (including extension) exceeds 6 months, the Service Officer will consider eligibility under the long term provisions as the period of care now exceeds 6 months
• The initial period of grant will count towards the long term care eligibility requirement of 6 months or more
• Note: short term care may become episodic care if the customer provides a medical certificate for an extension for the same condition with no break in entitlement and the THP has changed the diagnosis to episodic. This situation will count towards long term care eligibility if the continuous period is 6 months or more. For more information, see Carer Payment (CP) (child) episodic care

See Temporary cessation of care (respite) and hospitalisation.

A carer who qualifies for CP (child) for short term care will generally cease to be qualified for that payment when the child care receiver turns 16 years of age.

• However, the payment of CP (child) and CA (auto) will continue until the end of the short term care period even if this period goes beyond the care receiver's 16th birthday. If payment was granted the day before the child's 16th birthday for the maximum allowable period, the payment could continue until the day before the 6 month anniversary of the child's 16th birthday
• Any extensions granted can apply to a period after the care receiver turns 16, but no extensions can be granted after the child turns 16
• Short term care payments do not apply to CP (adult). If the carer was caring for a disabled adult and 1 or 2 children with a disability or medical condition (multiple care) and the child/ren turn 16, the carer may test their eligibility for CP (adult) or another income support payment once the period of care has ended

Specific THP and carer care load cancellation, suspension and rejection reasons will apply.

See Cancellation, suspension and rejection codes for Carer Payment (CP).

• A carer claiming CP (child) short term care for the first time will be required to submit an online claim or complete relevant forms issued via the First Contact Service Offer (FCSO) workflow. See Claiming Carer Payment (CP) and/or Carer Allowance (CA)
• For re-claims and transfers from other income support payments, the customer can submit an online claim or complete relevant forms issued via the FCSO. See Transfers to Carer Payment (CP)
• The CP medical report will be completed at the point of initial application for payment. A question twill allow the Treating Health Professional (THP) to indicate that the care receiver requires constant daily care for a specific period, which must be at least a minimum of 3 months and less than 6 months. This is the period of the grant for short term payment
• The claim form for short term CP (child) will include a specific question about duration of care

• The carer will receive a letter with information about the grant and end date of CP and details of the care receiver(s) for whom the payment is being made
• If the short term care is to be extended for (but the care period does not exceed 6 months), a letter will be sent to the customer advising the new eligibility end date
• If the short term care is to be extended for a period of 6 months or more, a reassessment letter advising of continuation of CP

• Short term care receivers will receive a Health Care Card (HCC) with entitlement for the dates of the short term care
• If there is an extension granted to the short term care, the care receiver's HCC is to be reissued with an end date in line with the date the extension was granted
• If extensions occur for a continuous of 6 months or more, then a reassessment for long term CP (child) will occur and Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) will be issued to the carer, and the care receiver will retain their HCC

Letters providing incorrect concession advice sent to carers granted Carer Payment under Short Term provisions - GRAPENPCC (grant, pension, pension concession card)

An issue has been identified where letters sent to carers who were granted CP under short term provisions have been incorrectly advised that a Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) will be issued.

The letter issued to carers incorrectly includes the paragraph:

• 'You should receive your pension concession card within 14 days from when you receive your first payment. If you need to purchase prescription medicines prior to receiving your concession card, you should retain your receipt/s as you may be able to claim a refund from Medicare upon presentation of your new card.'

Details of a recipient's concession entitlement can be viewed on the Concession Entitlement Summary (MCCS) screen while the Card Issue Summary (CCIS) screen displays actual cards issued.

This is a known issue and no further reports to the ICT Service Desk are required.

Short term care carers will be eligible for all other standard pension entitlements including advance payment excluding the Pensioner Concession Card (PCC).

Short term care information will be displayed in Customer First on the Carers Summary page.

Carers will be offered voluntary referrals to provide support for carers who choose to increase their social and economic participation and support carers who are seeking assistance with their caring role.

The service offer to carers will ensure carers are aware of the referral options offered by Services Australia and assist in connecting carers to their chosen options in a seamless manner.

The 2 referral pathways are:

• Referral to employment service providers
• Referral to government and non-government organisations who can provide assistance to carers with various aspects of their caring role. Options may include referral to child care services, respite services and organisations that provide support to carers. See Support services for carers