Carer or care receiver is absent from care for Carer Payment (CP) and/or Carer Allowance (CA) 009-25112618

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1

Temporary absence

Samantha provides care to James on Tuesday morning. That same day James enters respite. On Friday afternoon, James returns from respite to the care of Samantha.

As Samantha has temporarily ceased care of James, respite is required to be coded for two days, Wednesday and Thursday. This is because Samantha provided care to James on Tuesday and again on Friday.

There are only two full 24 hour periods from midnight to midnight that James was absent.

2

Regular absence

Joy provides care to Daisy. Every Friday afternoon Daisy goes to her grandparent’s house for the weekend and returns home to Joy on Sunday afternoon. As this absence is the same every week, it is a regular absence for one day.

There is only one full 24 hour period from midnight to midnight that Daisy is absent.

This will not affect Joy's entitlement to CP and/or CA as long as the total absence stays within the allowable 63 days temporary cessation of care (respite).

3

Change in care receiver

Louise cares for her son Michael. In July, Michael left Louise’s care permanently. Before Michael left, Louise had 5 days of respite remaining in the calendar year.

A few weeks later, Louise lodged a claim for Michael's sibling John. As this is a new care receiver, Louise is entitled to 63 days respite for John.

Due to a system limitation, the system will not allocate Louise the 63 respite days for John, instead it allocates Michael's 5 remaining days. This means if Louise looks to use respite for 6 days or more, the payment for John will cancel.

4

Change in care receiver due to bereavement

Sandra cares for Allan who passed away in March. Prior to Allan’s passing, Sandra has a balance of 22 respite days.

In October that same year, Sandra lodged a claim for Sophie. As this is a new care receiver, Sandra is entitled to 63 days respite.

The system will not allocate 63 respite days for Sophie but allocates Allan's 41 remaining respite days to the care of Sophie. The staff member refers the record to Level 2 Helpdesk to fix.

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Description

1

Carer has already used respite

A carer has used 38 days respite this calendar year. They advise of a 4 week overseas trip from 1 September to 29 September, without the care receiver.

• Portability is recorded for the period 1 September to 29 September (28 days portability)
• Respite is recorded for the period 2 September to 28 September, as it is assumed the carer provides care on the day of departure and the day of return. (27 days respite)

Due to the respite rules the carer’s payment will cancel before the end of the portability period as the total respite for the year exceeds 63 days.

2

Departure overseas without care receiver

On 1 June a carer departs Australia without the care receiver, with an expected date of return of 30 July.

• Portability is recorded for the entire period 1 June to 30 July
• Respite is recorded for the period 2 June to 12 July (41 days)

Due to the portability rules, the date of suspension of the carer's payments will be 13 July as payment is payable for 42 days only (payment will be received for the period 1 June to 12 July = 42 days).

Respite will only be recorded for 41 days (2 June to 12 July) as it is assumed the carer provides care on the day of departure (respite is based on 24 hour periods) and respite does not apply after the 12 July as payments will be suspended.

3

Care receiver goes overseas before carer

A care receiver departs Australia, without their carer, on 4 July for a 2 week holiday in Fiji. The carer then departs Australia on 11 July to be overseas with care receiver (and recommence care from 12 July) for the remainder of the holiday. They return to Australia together.

Respite will be recorded for the period 5 July (date after departure date as it is assumed the carer provides care on the day of departure) to 11 July (last full 24 hour period before care recommences).

4

Temporary absence of a couple

David and Karen are going to the USA on holiday for about 5 weeks from 22 June to the end of July.

David receives Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA) for caring for Karen who is on Age Pension. They also receive Rent Assistance (RA).

This is a temporary absence. CP and CA are portable and can be paid while the customer is overseas. CP add-ons can continue to be paid for the entire period while the customer remains qualified. This includes the Carer Supplement as David will be in receipt of the qualifying payment in the period that covers 1 July.

5

Permanent departure

Debbie receives CA and CP for a child Eileen. Both are going to live in South Africa on a permanent basis.

Debbie's CA or CP is not portable, and both will cease on departure.

Even if they were going to an agreement country such as Canada, the CP would not be portable because agreements only cover people who are caring for their partner.

6

Respite in period outside Australia

Gina cares for Georgio. They travelled to Greece together for a planned trip of 6 weeks, to visit relatives, on 1 February.

Gina decides to take the opportunity to have a break from care and takes a 2 week holiday using the respite days under the temporary cessation of care provisions. The relatives are happy to take care of Georgio during this time as Gina has had no respite for over 12 months.

Gina qualifies for CA throughout the whole absence because the 6 weeks temporary absence overseas and the 2 weeks temporary cessation of care during that absence are within the limits of the allowed portability of 6 weeks. Both the 2 weeks respite and the portability must be coded.

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Carer in hospital

Jill cares for her brother Benjamin. Jill is admitted to hospital. Jill is expected to return to the caring duties once released. Respite care is to be used, as the carer is temporarily not providing care to the care receiver. This will count towards the 63 days allowed.

2

Care receiver in hospital (child)

Suresh cares for their 8 year old child, Rami, who is admitted to hospital. Suresh provides daily care, feeding, washing and more. Hospitalisation care is to be used, as the carer is providing care, even if less care tasks than normal. As this is for a child, the hospitalisation time is to be recorded but will not impact the 63 days available.

3

Care receiver in hospital (adult) not providing daily care

Emily cares for their 22 year old child, Frankie, who is admitted to hospital. Emily visits daily and chats with Frankie. This does not meet hospitalisation requirements and Emily is not providing care. This is to be coded as respite and will impact the 63 days available.

4

Care receiver in hospital more than 63 days

If Julian, an adult care receiver is hospitalised for 90 days, it is possible for the carer, Arne, to use all 63 days for hospitalisation and 27 days respite care in order to remain eligible for a CP and/or CA (assuming Arne has 27 respite days left to use). The system will automatically switch to using respite days.

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Care receiver enters palliative care

Sam was admitted to a local hospital and was diagnosed with a terminal condition. Sam was then transferred to the hospital's palliative care unit.

Sam's partner, Jenny, lodges a claim for CA and advises these details and they are attending the hospital every day to provide care to Sam. In this situation, Jenny's claim would be assessed using the hospitalisation provisions.

2

Care receiver enters palliative care at home

Sean cares for their partner Jo. Jo has entered palliative care which is being provided at Jo and Sean’s home. Sean still provides care for Jo. Hospitalisation and respite provisions are not required, and Sean’s payment is not impacted.

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CA under Shared Care Provisions

Ben and Sid care for their child, Remy. If Ben goes away for work and Sid provides more care than normal, this is not temporary cessation of care for CA for Ben if Sid is providing the care that Ben normally provides. Temporary cessation of care only occurs for CA if neither Ben or Sid (or their current partner or another person they live with) provides care for a 24 hour period from midnight to midnight.

2

Shared care - hospitalisation

Samantha and Alex care for Tommy. On Monday Tommy goes to hospital for 7 days. During Tommy’s stay, Samantha provides care to Tommy for 3 days a week whilst Alex has temporarily stopped providing care while Tommy is in hospital.

As Samantha is still providing care to Tommy, she can use her available hospital days. Alex will need to use available respite days as he is not providing care while Tommy is in hospital and therefore does not qualify for hospitalisation day.

3

CP - Qualified under lower ADAT eligibility

Von cares for Toby, who provides care for their own child, Sally. Von receives Carer Payment. If Sally or Toby is away for a respite period, Von must use respite, even though only Toby is the listed care receiver.