Coding absences for Carer Allowance (CA) where care of the care receiver is shared 009-06040050

Note: while shared care provisions do not apply to Carer Payment (CP), the shared care arrangement must be considered when determining eligibility or continuing eligibility for CP. See Eligibility for Carer Payment (CP) when a care receiver is aged 16 years or over and Assessing Carer Payment (CP) when the care is shared.

Details about shared care are listed on the carer's record on the Carer Details (CDCR) screen.

Does the person who notifies of the absence regularly share care with another carer they do not live with?

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, shared care provisions not apply. See Care receiver is absent from the caring situation (CLK)

It is only necessary to report absence/s:

• when the care receiver is not in the care of either carer, and/or
• to notify absences of 24 hours or more, from midnight to midnight, when neither carer provides care

Is the absence notifiable?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, updates are not required. Procedure ends here

The other carer would be prevented from qualifying for CA if for example:

• For an adult care receiver, one person lives with the care receiver and one carer does not live with the care receiver

• For a child care receiver, the two carers are members of a couple or the child is not a dependent child of the other carer

• The two carers do not regularly and on a fortnightly basis together provide daily care and attention

Would the other person be prevented from qualifying?

• Yes, shared care provisions do not apply. See Care receiver is absent from the caring situation (CLK) Procedure ends here
• No, the other carer would qualify for CA if they claimed, so shared care provisions do apply. Go to Step 4

• Yes, record the other carer's name, date of birth, and Customer Reference Number (CRN) in the Other carer details: field on the Carer Details (CDCR) screen. Go to Step 5
• No, record only the other carer's name in the Other carer details: field on the CDCR screen. Go to Step 5

• Yes, go to Step 6
• No, go to Step 7

Advice the carer, as they regularly and normally share care with another person on a fortnightly basis (whether the other carer has applied for a part-rate of CA or not) this is not regarded as an absence.

The carer only needs to tell Centrelink about any 24 hour periods, from midnight to midnight, when neither carer provides care. This will be counted as an absence for both carers

Procedure ends here

Is the absence for a period of 24 hours, from midnight to midnight?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, part day absences do not count. No temporary cessation of care has occurred. Procedure ends here

Run the Temporary Cessation of Care workflow and update carer's record with the absence.

If the workflow is not available or not working, manually code the Absences Details (ABSN) screen. When the absences are coded manually, record details on a DOC in both carers' records.

See:

• Coding a one-off absence for Carer Payment (CP)/Carer Allowance (CA) when the care receiver is absent
• Coding a regular absence for Carer Allowance (CA)/Carer Payment (CP) when the care receiver is absent

For part rate of CA

If both carers receive a part rate of CA, repeat the appropriate process until the absences are coded for both carers.