Carer Payment (CP) (child) exchanged care 009-04070050

For exchanged care, the term 'parent' applies to carers who are adoptive parents or legal guardians and who are party to 1 or more 'parenting plans', 'registered parenting plans' or 'parenting orders'.

Parenting plans will set out the length or percentage of care that each separated parent will provide care to each qualifying child.

The exchanged care provisions apply when 2 separated or divorced parents:

• care for 2 or more children under 16 years of age who require constant care
• provide the care under a 'parenting plan', 'registered parenting plan' or 'parenting order'
• exchange the care of each child

The parents may each qualify for CP (child) exchanged care where care is provided to any of the following:

• children who each individually qualify for CP (child)
• 2 or more children each with a disability or medical condition who qualify a person for CP (child), and/or
• a disabled adult and 1 or more children each with a disability or medical condition who qualify for CP (child) or (adult)

In addition to the above, to be eligible for CP (child) under the exchanged care provisions:

• the carer must personally provide constant care to the care receiver
• the care provided to the care receiver attains a qualifying rating of 'intense' under the Disability Care Load Assessment (child) Determination (DCLAD) (2020)
• the provision of the care must severely restrict the person's capacity to undertake paid employment
• the carer must complete the usual carer assessment process

Note: exchanged care cases with more than 1 former spouse may be of a complexity that requires specialist assessment.

CA (auto) is available to all recipients of (CP) (child).

If CP (child) cancels, CA (auto) will cancel automatically at the same time. The customer will need to lodge a new claim for CA (child) if the child still requires and receives additional daily care due to their disability or medical condition.