Eligibility for Carer Allowance (CA) 009-03020000

Carer Allowance (CA) (child) is paid to a person providing additional daily care and attention to a child with a disability aged under 16, in the shared residence of the carer and the care receiver. Eligibility for CA (child) can be either a fortnightly payment and a Health Care Card or a Health Care Card only.

CA (adult) is assessed under the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT). The ADAT measures the functional ability and care needs, and allows the care receiver to be assessed and have their level of disability objectively determined.

CA (auto) is automatically payable for each child care receiver for the period that the carer is paid Carer Payment (CP) (child) for the same care receiver, as long as the carer is not qualified under the standard provisions for CA (child) for the care receiver/s.

CA may be payable to carers of adult care receivers who do not live with the person they provide care for. This qualification is contained in Section 954A of the Social Security Act. The qualification for carers who live with their care receiver in the same house is contained in Section 954. This means CA (adult) may be paid if personal care is provided in the private home of either the carer or care receiver, and this care is provided on a daily basis.

A person may qualify for CA for:

• 2, but no more than 2, adults with a disability who meet the CA (16 years or over) criteria
• each dependent child with a disability that meets the CA (under 16 years) criteria, regardless of the number of children.

Care should be taken when a carer who is already receiving Carer Payment (CP) and/or CA contacts to claim CP and/or CA for a second care receiver. A discussion should be had with the carer as to whether CP is more appropriate for the new care receiver, this will all depend on the individual aspects of the carer and care receiver's circumstances. If the new care receiver is suffering from a terminal medical condition, it may be more appropriate to claim CP for the new care receiver due to bereavement provisions.

CA can be shared by two carers who are not members of the same couple and who share the care for the same care receiver or care receivers, provided they meet the qualifications for CA. Before CA can be shared by two carers who are not members of the same couple, a declaration must be made under Section 981 of the Social Security Act 1991 (SSA) that CA is to be shared between these two carers.

A claimant for CA must satisfy the residence requirements necessary to qualify for payment. The assessment includes whether the carer is residentially qualified to lodge a legal claim for payment.

To be eligible for CA, the carer’s and their partner’s combined Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI) 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.

There is no assets test.

The carer's and their partner's income does not affect the rate of CA paid.

The income test does not apply if the carer or their partner receive an income-tested income support payment, Family Tax Benefit paid in fortnightly instalments or is the holder of a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). The carer is exempt from providing their income details for the CA income test.