Eligibility for Carer Allowance (CA) for 2 carers in respect of the same care receiver 009-03020050

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 more. The same income limit applies if the carer does not have a partner. The income test does not affect the rate of CA.

CA Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI) details are collected in a CA claim or combined Carer Payment (CP) and CA claim unless the claimant is already exempt from providing their income details for the CA income test at the time they complete their claim.

A CA claimant can become exempt or lose their exemption from providing their income details for the CA income test.

• If the claimant is not already exempt at the time they complete their claim, they may become exempt due to being granted CP or when they or their partner are granted a payment or card that qualifies for an exemption
• A CA claimant may be exempt at the time they complete their claim but when it is processed they have lost their exemption – in this case the Service Officer will manually issue a Carer Allowance adjusted taxable income details (SA489) form by selecting Request Documents through the More Options icon located in Process Direct

For more information see CA income test - determining reference tax year and assessable income components

CA can be shared by 2 carers who are not members of a couple and who share the care for the same care receiver or care receivers, provided they meet the qualifications for CA, including the CA income test. Before CA can be shared by 2 carers, a declaration must be made under Section 981 of the Social Security Act 1991 (SSA) that CA is to be shared between the 2 carers.

Note the following:

• If 1 carer is already in receipt of CA, the second carer can claim CA online or the Assisted Customer Claim (ACC) can be run by a Service Officer with the carer. The online claim and ACC will present relevant questions only as information from their Centrelink record will pre-populate into the claim
• If both carers are members of the same couple, only 1 person will receive CA. See information under the heading 'CA claim received from the second member of a couple' below
• If both carers are not members of the same couple, and they qualify for Carer Payment (CP) (child) under the exchanged care provisions, the payment of CA (auto) is shared in the same proportions. The care receiver does not have to be tested a second time against the list of recognised disabilities or the Disability Care Load Assessment (child) Determination (DCLAD) 2020 or the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT)
• In the case of a child care receiver, the child must be a dependent child of both carers. If the care is shared between a parent and a grandparent it is unlikely the child will be a dependent of both. CA can only be paid to the carer who has the dependent child in their care. If the shared care provisions do not apply and:
• the arrangement is temporary, the temporary cessation of care (TCC) provisions may apply while the child is in the care of the other carer
• the arrangement is not temporary, the carer may have lost entitlement to CA if daily care is not being provided and this must be investigated
• In the case of an adult care receiver, CA may be shared between 2 co-resident carers (if not members of the same couple) or 2 non-co-resident carers. However, CA cannot be shared between a co-resident and a non-co-resident carer. A separate procedure outlines eligibility for CA (adult) when caring in a private home not shared by the carer and care receiver

If 1 member of a couple receives CA and the other member of the couple claims and is qualified, a decision must be made under section 965 of the Social Security Act 1991 who is the primary carer. This will require contact with both members of the couple.

If the second carer still wishes to claim CA and is determined to be the primary carer, they should be granted from the date the other member of the couple has been cancelled. Both members of a couple need to be advised in writing individually of the decision as to who is the primary carer.

If the first member of the couple (already receiving CA) is determined to be the primary carer, the second member of the couple's claim must be rejected. A free-text letter shell will generate to advise the second carer, their partner, is regarded as the primary carer. A manual letter must also be issued to the first member of the couple to advise of the decision that they are regarded as the primary carer.

If 2 carers who receive a shared care rate of CA for the same care receiver, advise they have become partnered, they can no longer both be paid CA. See Changes to shared care for Carer Allowance (CA).