The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

3.6.13 Carer supplement - qualification & payability

Summary

Carer supplement (CS) is an annual payment to carers who receive or are taken to receive an instalment of a qualifying payment for a period including 1 July. It is paid in addition to the eligible primary payment. The payment is not indexed and is not regarded as income for the purposes of income tax or for family assistance payments.

The CS is paid to:

  • all recipients of CA - for each person being cared for
  • all recipients of CP
  • all recipients of DVA carer service pension, and
  • those recipients of DVA partner service pension, who also receive CA.

Note: A person may qualify for more than one CS.

Example 1: Olivia is receiving CA for her son Isaac. If she remains in receipt of CA for a period that includes 1 July she will be paid one amount of CS totalling $600.

Example 2: Betty is receiving DVA partner service pension and CA for the care she provides her husband Allan. If Betty remains in receipt of both DVA partner service pension and CA for a period that includes 1 July she will be paid 2 amounts of CS totalling $1,200.

Example 3: Kate cares for her parents, John and Mary. Kate receives CP and CA for her mother and CA for her father. If Kate remains in receipt of CP and CA for her mother and CA for her father for a period that includes 1 July she will be paid CS for CA for John and CS for CA for Mary and CS for CP, total $1800.

For CA recipients where more than one carer is sharing the care of one person, the CS is shared in the same circumstances and paid in the same ratio as the CA.

Example 4: James and Claire are separated but continue to share the care of their daughter Faith who has Rett syndrome. Both James and Claire are receiving a 50:50 rate of CA. If both remain in receipt of CA for a period that includes 1 July the CS will be paid in the same ratio as the CA.

Note: A HCC CA (child) recipient is not entitled to CS.

Carers whose claims are backdated to include 1 July will be eligible to receive CS.

For recipients who are identified as being income managed the CS will be 100% income managed.

Act reference: SSAct section 992X Carer supplement

Effect of nil rates of CP, DVA partner service pension & DVA carer service pension due to employment income

A person who receives a nil rate of an eligible qualifying payment in the period that includes 1 July, due to their or their partner's income, some of which is employment income, is taken to have been paid an instalment of that qualifying payment and is eligible to receive a carer supplement.

Act reference: SSAct section 8 Income test definitions, section 992X Carer supplement

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 section 46AB Meaning of employment income

Bereavement provisions

A carer in a bereavement period for an eligible income support payment including 1 July will receive the CS.

Carers who receive a CA lump sum bereavement payment for a bereavement period that includes 1 July will receive the CS.

Act reference: SSAct Act section 992LB Lump sum payable in some circumstances

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.6.7.175 Bereavement provisions for CA

Debt provisions

If all the qualifying payment and/or pension paid to a carer for 1 July become a debt due to the Commonwealth, the entire carer supplement paid to the carer for that 1 July instalment also becomes a debt.

If part of the CA paid to a carer for 1 July becomes a debt due to the Commonwealth, part of the CS paid to the carer for that 1 July instalment also becomes a debt. The CS debt amount is the difference between the amount received by the carer and the amount they were entitled to under the application of SSAct subsection 981(1).

Act reference: SSAct section 1223ABD Debts in respect of carer supplement for 2010 and later years

Last reviewed: