Transfers to Carer Payment (CP) 009-04020000

Item

Transferring from

1

ABSTUDY

• While the ABSTUDY payment will cease to be paid when CP is granted, the ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) entitlement (not Living Allowance) is still available to carers receiving CP if they are still studying an approved course at an approved institution
• Ensure continuing study does not cause the carer to cease care for more than 25 hours per week (including travel time). See Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA) carer undertakes paid employment, self-employment, voluntary work, education or training activities
• Customers will no longer be eligible for other ABSTUDY payment components such as School Term Allowance, School Fees Allowance, Incidentals Allowance, Course Fees, etc.

2

Age Pension

• If a carer has chosen to transfer from CP to Age Pension due to reaching Age Pension age and they change their choice and want to remain on CP, they must advise Centrelink of this preference within 13 weeks of their transfer to Age Pension
• As CP has no upper age limit, carers can opt to stay on CP indefinitely once they reach Age Pension age, as long as they remain eligible for the payment

Advantages of transferring to CP from Age Pension

• There is no entitlement to a Carer lump sum bereavement payment if they are in receipt of Age Pension. See Death of an adult or child care receiver and the effect on Carer Payment (CP)
• The Age Pension is paid at the same fortnightly rate and under the same income and assets test as CP, so there should be no change in payment rate when transferring from this payment to CP
• Access to Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)
• Access to Education Entry Payment (EdEP)
• If the carer is single and sharing privately rented accommodation they may be eligible for a higher maximum rate of Rent Assistance (RA) on CP than if they were receiving Age Pension and sharing accommodation
• Entitlement to the Carer Supplement. There is no entitlement to the annual Carer Supplement if the carer is receiving Age Pension

Advantages of remaining on Age Pension

• CP has restricted portability. Age Pension can usually be paid indefinitely
• CP customers are restricted in the time they are able to cease caring without affecting eligibility. Age Pension has no such restrictions
• CP is reviewed regularly to assess the level of care provided. There are also income and asset reviews and in some cases medical reviews. Age Pension has income and assets reviews only
• The Seasonal Work Preclusion Period (SWPP) applies to CP. Age Pension is not subject to the SWPP
• CP carers are restricted to employment, voluntary work or study activities of 25 hours per week. Age Pension has no such restrictions

Find more details on the Services Australia Website.

3

Austudy

• Customers may continue to receive Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) if still undertaking an approved course at an approved educational institution
• If the person transferring to CP will be continuing their studies, check this will not cause them to be absent from the caring situation for more than 25 hours per week including travel time. For more details, see Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA) carer undertakes paid employment, self-employment, voluntary work, education or training activities

4

Disability Support Pension (DSP)

• Check if the person on DSP has a carer. If they have a carer, and they are transferring to CP themselves, their own carer may no longer qualify for payment
• DSP is paid at the same rate and under the same income and assets test as CP, so there should be no change in payment rate when transferring from DSP to CP
• Customers in the DSP grandfathered group who elect to transfer to CP will lose their Grandfathered Status if they decide to transfer back to DSP
• If transferring from DSP Blind, an assessment for income and assets may be required
• Customers transferring from DSP who are in receipt of Incentive Allowance (IA) will lose eligibility to IA if they transfer
• If they stay on DSP they may be eligible for Rent Assistance (RA) if renting, and
• if single, paying rent and sharing accommodation, they may wish to consider remaining on DSP and claim RA instead, as RA may be a higher amount, see Sharer Status field on the Accommodation Details (AC) screen

5

JobSeeker Payment (JSP)

• If an JSP job seeker has an exemption from their mutual obligation requirements due to caring responsibilities, they can request an extension if circumstances change and the care receiver needs care for a longer period of time. Service Officers must consider whether it is more appropriate to grant an exemption for a further 13 weeks, or to consider eligibility for CP and/or Carer Allowance (CA)
• When a job seeker is caring for someone who is sick or has a disability, they may need to be referred to a Centrelink specialist officer. This may be the social worker or Indigenous Service Officer (ISO)

6

Parenting Payment Single (PPS)

If the carer is currently receiving PPS and working, it may be more beneficial for them to stay on PPS.

The PPS income test is more generous than the single pension income test so the carer will need to make an informed decision about which payment they would like to get.

Consider Carer Supplement also when deciding which payment.

7

Special Benefit (SpB)

If the SpB customer is qualified for JobSeeker Payment (JSP) or Youth Allowance (YA) (job seeker) but the allowance is not payable to them because of a Seasonal Work Preclusion Period (SWPP) and the customer transfers to CP, the SWPP would still be served until it is ended.

8

Youth Allowance (YA) (Job seeker)

• If a YA (Job seeker) has an exemption from their mutual obligation requirements due to caring responsibilities, they can request an extension if circumstances change and the person they are caring for needs care for a longer period. Service Officers must consider whether it is more appropriate to grant an exemption for a further 13 weeks, or to consider eligibility for CP and/or Carer Allowance (CA)
• When a job seeker is caring for someone who is sick or has a disability, they may need to be referred to a Centrelink specialist officer. This may be:
• a social worker, or
• an Indigenous Service Officer

9

Youth Allowance (YA) (Student)

If the person transferring to CP will be continuing their studies, check they will not be absent from the caring situation for more than 25 hours per week including travel time. For more details, see Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA) carer undertakes paid employment, self-employment, voluntary work, education or training activities.