Care Receiver Income and Assets 108-03020000

A care receiver who is 16 years or over must meet an income and assets test unless they receive a Social Security or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) income support payment.

If the care receiver is not receiving a Social Security pension or benefit, a DVA Service Pension, Income Support Supplement, or a Veteran Payment; they are subject to the non-customer Care Receiver Income and Assets (CRIA) test.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds received whether received periodically or as a lump sum (including interest accrued), which are deposited into an account specifically for the purpose of managing the customer's NDIS plan, are exempt from the income and assets tests and deeming. They are not required to be reported and if reported, should not be taken into account in the income and asset assessment.

The care receiver's income threshold is determined under the Social Security Act (SSA) 1991. The income to be assessed for the non-customer care receiver is based on their personal circumstances (for example, single or partnered, living with a parent/guardian, etc.), and their income in the appropriate tax year as set out in the SSA. It does not include any non-taxable income. For care receivers income thresholds see the Carer Payment (CP) - Care Receiver Income and Asset Limits link on the Rates and Thresholds page.

The appropriate tax year is the current financial year, if the income in the base tax year:

• exceeds the limit, and
• there has been a decrease since the base tax year, and
• the care receiver has provided a written estimate of their current tax year income

See Components of the Care Receiver Income and Assets (CRIA) test.

Once income qualification is established, the non-customer care receiver assets test is applied.

The care receiver Assets Test includes assets inside and outside Australia and the value of the asset is the net market value. The family home is not included.

If a care receiver does not pass the care receivers assets test limit, they may be exempt from the Assets Test depending on:

• the assets value
• the liquid assets
• the income amount

The effect of these exemption provisions is that a family with assets over the assets limit could pass the Assets Test. They will still need to meet the care receiver's income threshold. For care receivers income thresholds and asset limits see the Carer Payment (CP) - Care Receiver Income and Asset Limits link on the Rates and Thresholds page.

Adult care receivers are not subject to the non-customer CRIA test if:

• they are a higher Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT) score adult who is receiving a social security pension or benefit, or a DVA Service Pension, Income Support Supplement or Veteran Payment, or
• they would be eligible to receive such a payment but for the sole reason that they have not been an Australian resident for a long enough period

Child care receivers are all subject to the CRIA test without exception.

There is no provision to exempt a care receiver from the CRIA test due to domestic violence.

An overpayment of CP can occur when the actual taxable income of the care receiver (and any other person included in the care receiver income test) is more than the income limit.

See Resources page for information of when to raise an overpayment due to the CRIA.