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.

3.6.4.140 Notification & recipient obligations for CP

Notifiable events for CP

In addition to the common obligations for notifiable events (3.1.3), CP places an obligation to notify, equally on the carer (1.1.C.40) and the care receiver (1.1.C.20). If the care receiver is a child (under 16 years), the obligation rests with the parent/legal guardian to notify of any changes that may affect the carer's qualification for CP.

Reporting methods

A CP recipient can be required to give information to Centrelink in one or both of 2 different ways. The first way is that all recipients are required to report if a specified event or circumstance change occurs or is likely to occur, notification reporters (1.1.N.126). The second way is that some recipients are also required to give a statement about a specified matter, and sometimes to give a separate statement for each of several specified periods, statement reporters (1.1.S.350).

Notification required within 14 days

A care receiver who is aged 16 years or more, or a parent/legal guardian of a care receiver who is aged under 16 years, must notify if a specified event or change of circumstances occurs, or a specified event or change of circumstances is likely to occur, if they are given a notice to do so by the Secretary.

A carer MUST notify within the 14-day notification period, if any of the following events occur, or are likely to occur to either the carer or the care receiver/s:

  • care receiver circumstances
    • no longer requires constant care, OR
    • starts or changes employment, OR
    • changes address, OR
    • is admitted to a hospital or hospice, OR
    • is permanently admitted to an institution, OR
    • the diagnosis of their disability or medical condition changes, OR
    • has an increase in their income, OR
    • has an increase in their assets, OR
    • ceases to receive a DVA pension, OR
    • is a low ADAT adult with a child who is no longer a dependent of the adult or the child is aged over 6 years but under 16 years and no longer qualifies a carer for CA (child).
  • carer circumstances
    • ceases to provide constant care, OR
    • the amount of care provided decreases, OR
    • (in exchange care situations) care is not provided according to the parenting plan or order, or the plan or order is changed, OR
    • changes their address, OR
    • has an increase in income or assets, OR
    • increases the number of hours they cease to provide constant care in order to undertake training, education, employment or voluntary work, OR
    • is paid income from employment.

Note: CP recipients over 80 years of age who are residing overseas must complete a proof of life certificate once every 2 years. Refer to topic 6.2.1 for details.

Act reference: SS(Admin)Act section 68 Person receiving social security payment or holding concession card, section 70 Care receiver in respect of whom CP being made, Part 3 Division 6—Requirement to provide information, undergo medical examination etc.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.3 Notification & recipient obligations

Statement reporters

CP recipients who are statement reporters are usually required to lodge a Reporting Statement on a specified day each fortnight to allow their continued payability to be assessed. All CP recipients who have employment income, or whose partner has employment income (where relevant), are required to be statement reporters and generally need to report their income fortnightly (excluding those listed in 1.1.S.350).

Notification required within 28 days

A CP recipient must notify within 28 days of the death of the care receiver/s.

Example: Margaret provides care for her elderly parents, Geoff and Martina. Geoff, the parent who qualified Margaret for CP dies. Margaret has 28 days to notify of the death of her father. If Margaret wishes to claim CP for her mother she would need to lodge a new CP claim.

Changes to level of care - HIGHER OR LOWER ADAT SCORE ADULT (1.1.H.63)(1.1.L.130)

Changes to the level of care provided to care receiver must be notified if a person qualifies for CP (adult) based on the care needs of one person with a qualifying score against the ADAT. If the care needs change, decrease or cease altogether qualification can be reassessed.

Reporting income - late reporting

Payment of CP will be cancelled if the CP recipient has not reported income one fortnight, or 14 days after the due date. However, if special circumstances exist the payment MAY be restored. When a CP recipient is late reporting, the following information should be considered to determine if special circumstances apply.

  • The reasons for the late reporting - the longer the delay, the greater the need to provide detailed reasons to account for the delay for the full period.
  • Whether it was partly or solely an administrative delay.
  • Other mitigating or extenuating factors which may call for a more generous approach.
    Examples
    • Death of an immediate family member
    • unexpected telecommunication problems, phone service is down due to storms, fire, natural disaster
    • the carer has been admitted to hospital, or
    • an illness, impairment or medical condition that contributed to the delay in reporting.
  • The plausibility of the reasons for the delay.
  • Whether the person belongs to a disadvantaged group.
    Example
    • The person has a low level of English comprehension or language communication issues.

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