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Change of address for Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA) 009-03070020

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Forms

Carer Allowance Questionnaire - Carer not living with the person for whom care is being provided form (SA381)

Review of care provided - Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance - Caring for a person 16 years or over (SA010)

Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance - non-medical review (SC236)

Publications

Consideration of distance - assessment of daily care for CA and constant care for CP when carer and care receiver do not live together

Information and examples are provided below for assessing daily care for CA and/or constant care for CP when the carer and care receiver are not living together

Note: consider each case based on the circumstances. The distances and times below are a guide only. The assessment of constant care does not apply to CP (XWP). Care requirements for these carers only apply to CA.

Services Australia staff can access a mapping service link for 'Whereis' to calculate the distance and travel time between a carer and care receiver.

Whereis

  • Select the 'Get Directions' tab
  • Enter the 'To' and 'From' addresses and the mode of transport
  • Select 'Get Directions' tab for result
  • A map will display with an estimated time of travel

Note: if 'Whereis.com' is used when assessing daily or constant care, then it must be recorded on the carer's record that Whereis.com was used.

Distance (kms) and time (mins) between the carer and care receiver each way

Level of Care

Action

Example

Less than 100 kms

Less than 60 mins

Likely to be able to provide daily care for CA and constant care for CP

Distance and/or travel time is unlikely to prevent daily care for CA or constant care for CP. However, consider factors such as:

  • distance and daily travel time between carer and care receiver
  • mode of travel and impact on travel time
  • accessibility of the carer to the care receiver, and
  • level of care provided

Details of decisions must be recorded in a Note or a DOC on the carer's record.

The carer lives geographically close to the care receiver but has to use public transport. They live in an area where public transport is limited in amount and times available.

The carer is providing daily care for the CA, but due to the availability of public transport they are not providing constant care for a significant period each day for CP.

100-149 kms

Approximately 60 to 90 mins

May be able to provide daily care for CA and constant care for CP

Consider factors such as:

If unsure, contact Local Peer Support (LPS) for guidance. If required, send an enquiry to the Level 2 Policy Helpdesk for assistance. Include care and living arrangement details. Record details in a Note or DOC on the carer's record.

Any decision and reasons for the decision must be recorded in a Note or DOC on the carer's record.

The addresses may be some distance apart but the carer and care receiver are moving between homes together.

Example 1: The carer resides at the care receiver's home during the week.

The carer returns to their family home on weekends taking the care receiver with them.

The carer meets daily care for CA and constant care for CP.

Example 2: The carer travels to the care receivers, at intermittent times, for a few days at a time, taking the care receiver to medical appointments.

The carer does not meet daily care for CA nor constant care for CP.

150 kms or more

90 mins or more

Unlikely to be able to provide daily care for CA or constant care for CP.

Consider factors such as

In unusual circumstances where the carer may be providing daily and/or constant care, contact Local Peer Support (LPS) for guidance. If required, send an enquiry to the Level 2 Policy Helpdesk for assistance.

Include care and living arrangement details. Record information in a Note or DOC on the carer's record.

Any decision and reasons for the decision must be recorded in a Note or DOC on the carer's record.

Example 1: The care receiver has moved; The only suitable accommodation was 2hrs away from the carer. The carer is now looking for accommodation to move near the care receiver to continue to provide care.

The situation may be considered temporary. See Temporary Cessation of Care (respite) provisions for Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA)

Example 2: The carer has lodged a claim for CP and CA as the care receiver's care needs have increased. The carer is planning to move to live near the care receiver.

Daily or constant care may not have commenced. However consider early claims.

See also Carer Allowance (CA) (adult) when caring in a private home not shared by the carer and care receiver task cards.

Assessing when the carer and care receiver live together in more than one private residence

Note: consider each case based on the circumstances. The below factors are a guide only. The assessment of constant care does not apply to CP (XWP). Care requirements for these carers only apply to CA.

It is possible the carer and care receiver live together in 2 homes. This usually occurs when they are related, own their respective homes, the homes are a significant distance apart and they stay at each other's home regularly and for a reasonable time. Often the carer has a partner or children, and this prevents them from leaving their home permanently.

Consider:

  • distance and travel time between the homes
  • time spent at each home and how often?
  • start date of circumstance
  • time frame this is intended to continue
  • care required and provided at each home, for example eat, sleep or shower
  • any activities which are only done at one of the homes, for example laundry?
  • movement of possessions between homes, for example, clothes, toiletries, reading material, hobby items. Are these items at both homes all the time or are items moved between homes when they travel
  • caring equipment which is only at one of the homes

If there is a significant distance between the 2 homes and it would not be reasonable for either the carer or the care receiver to travel between the homes each day and they stay at each home for a reasonable time on an ongoing basis, it would usually be accepted that care is being provided in 2 homes.

It is not possible to define reasonable time, but it would need to support the claim that the carer or care receiver is living in that home.