Carer Payment (CP) and/or Carer Allowance (CA) care receiver commences or returns to work 009-06040080

Is the carer receiving Carer Allowance (CA)?

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, carer is receiving Carer Payment (CP) only, go to Step 4

Investigate if the carer is still eligible for Carer Allowance (CA). For assistance see:

• Qualifications for Carer Allowance (CA) when the care receiver is aged 16 years or over
• Qualifications for Carer Allowance (CA) (child) when a customer is receiving CA only
• Eligibility for Carer Allowance (CA) (auto) when a carer is also receiving Carer Payment (CP) (child)

Is the carer still providing the required daily care and attention to qualify for CA?

• Yes, and the customer is:
• receiving CP (XWP). Record details on a DOC in the carer's record. Procedure ends here
• also receiving Carer Payment (CP), go to Step 4
• not receiving CP, record details on a DOC in the carer's record. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 3

Update carer record as needed:

• Run the Carer cancellation and suspension workflow
• If the workflow is not available, manual coding will be required via the Benefit Action (BA) screen
• Cancel CA

Note: If the carer is getting CP (XWP) and their only or last payment level CA is cancelled from the first date the carer ceased providing care and attention, then CP (XWP) will be automatically be cancelled. A carer loses their qualification for CP (XWP) permanently if payment level CA is not reinstated without a gap in entitlement.

Does the carer also receive Carer Payment (CP)?

• Yes, and they are
• a CA (XWP) customer, record details on a DOC. Ensure that cancellation letter was issued. Procedure ends here
• not a CA (XWP) customer, go to Step 4
• No, record details on a DOC. Ensure that cancellation letter was issued. Procedure ends here

Determine if carer is still entitled to CP. This can be done by either:

• issuing a Review of care provided - Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance caring for a person - 16 years or over (SA010) form and an (SA332A) - Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance Medical Report, - For a person - 16 years or over, and setting up a review for its return, or
• refer to Carer Processing (CD1), using Fast Note with an explanation of the carer's circumstances to follow up
• Use Fast Note - Select Auto text, use Carers > SUS/CAN/RES > CP/CA - Investigation Required
• Select Confirm
• Complete all fields
• Service Officer with carers knowledge can contact the carer and discuss whether constant care is still required and is being provided during the remainder of the 24 hour period in which the care receiver is absent

For example, if the care receiver is absent from the care situation for part of the day, but the intensity of the care required is still being provided during the remainder of the 24 hour period and is such that it roughly equates to a normal working day, the carer remains entitled to CP. A DOC should be created on the carer's record detailing the level of care still being provided to the care receiver.

If the carer indicates that the care receiver's condition has significantly improved, a medical review should be conducted. For more information, see Medical reviews for Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA) (adult).

• Yes, go to Step 6
• No, run the Carer cancellation and suspension workflow and cancel CP. The workflow will assist to record details on a DOC in the carer's record. Note: if the workflow is not available or working, manually code the cancellation of CP via the BA screen. Record details on a DOC. Procedure ends here

If the care receiver remains in receipt of a Centrelink income support payment, or their partner remains in receipt of a Centrelink income support payment, any income from employment should be declared to assess entitlement under the Income Test.

• If the care receiver's income support payment will cancel and they will become a non-customer - for example, a Disability Support Pension (DSP) care receiver who returns to full time work and is 'CAN-FTW' - their income will be assessed to determine continuing qualification as a care receiver under the 'non-customer care receiver income and assets test'. An Income and Asset Review activity (CRP/AAP) with review reason 'IAR' is created on the Future Activity List (FAL) screen in the care receiver's record
• If the care receiver is not in receipt of a Centrelink or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) income support payment when the review activity matures at the end of the year, a review form Carer Payment - Income and assets details of the person being cared for (16 years and over) (SA304(a)) will be auto issued by the system
• If the care receiver's income support payment is suspended and is likely to remain suspended for a long time (for example, DSP suspended 'RTW'), the SA304(a) form should be manually issued to the care receiver, as the Income and Asset Review activity (CRP/AAP) will not be created on the FAL screen until the payment cancels

If the CP carer has employment income:

• If under Age Pension age - Working Credits may enable the carer to keep some of their income support payment while they are working
• If over Age Pension age and in receipt of a pension they may be entitled to the Work Bonus. Note: the Work Bonus is not used in the carer's transitional rules calculation, however the Work Bonus will still be used in the comparison calculations and partners may still benefit by the reduction in total income
• Where the CP carer would receive nil payment due to the Income Test and some of that income is from their (or their partner's) employment income, the carer may remain current at a nil rate for a period of up to six consecutive fortnights provided they continue to meet the qualification requirements for CP, including the constant care criterion
• For more information on this situation, see Components of the Care Receiver Income and Assets (CRIA) test