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

Is someone other than the claimant currently in receipt of CA for the same care receiver, or have claims been lodged by 2 carers for the same care receiver?

Note: 2 carers under a shared care arrangement should have a payment equalling 100% of CA when either 1 or 2 persons claim. The shared rate of CA may or may not be equal to the percentage of care listed in a parenting plan.

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, this procedure does not apply. See:
• Processing carer online and assisted customer claims
• Coding a paper claim for CA where the care receiver is under 16, or
• Coding a paper claim for CA where the care receiver is 16 or over

For CA to be payable to 2 carers for the same care receiver, all of the following must be determined:

• the 2 carers are not members of the same couple
• each of the 2 carers is qualified for the payment
• the share of the payment each of them is to receive

Note: the shared rate of CA may or may not be equal to the percentage of care listed in a parenting plan.

If these criteria are satisfied, the declaration under section 981 of the Social Security Act 1991 to pay both can be made. See Legislation on the References page for more details about the declaration.

Can the declaration be made?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, the claim for 1 carer must be rejected.
• Reject the claim for the 1 claimant after determining, under Social Security Act 1991, section 964. For help, see: Eligibility for CA when the care receiver is aged 16 years or over
• If required, interview the claimants to determine which carer is to receive CA
• Notify the claimants of the outcome
• Procedure ends here

This may mean only granting 1 payment, as 1 carer may already be in receipt of CA. The declaration will state the amount of care provided by each carer and the share of CA payable to each one.

The date of effect for the claim is the date the new shared care declaration (under section 981) was made to share CA between 2 qualified carers. This date overrides the usual date of effect provisions, and is therefore not subject to arrears.

There are 2 exceptions:

• if both carers claimed on the same date and are eligible from the same date, both carers can be backdated to the same start date if both claims are processed on the same day. If both claims are not processed on the same day, only the first processed should be backdated
• if the second carer has successfully appealed a decision within 13 weeks, they should be granted from the same date as the original decision to reject. The debt shell created for the other carer should be finalised 'no debt

For more information, see Shared care for Carer Allowance (CA).

When a declaration of shared care is determined, the percentage of care provided must be coded (before the review period starts) to reflect the carer with the greater amount of care is the primary carer.

For each carer, undertake the coding to grant CA detailed ins:

• Processing carer online and assisted customer claims
• Coding a claim for Carer Allowance (CA) where the care receiver is under 16, or
• Coding a claim for Carer Allowance (CA) where the care receiver is 16 or over

Pay close attention to the coding on the Care Details (CDCR) screen and Care days/fortnight or Care % fields. Code this according to the declaration made in Step 2.