3.6.7.115 Payability of child disability assistance

Summary

From 2007, a carer who receives CA (child) on 1 July can receive a payment of child disability assistance (CDA). The payment will be made automatically into the same account as CA payments and there is no need for a separate claim to be made.

Amount of payment

The amount of CDA payable is $1,000 per child care receiver for whom a CA (child) instalment including 1 July is made. If a declaration has been made under SSAct subsection 981(1) specifying a carer receives a share of CA for a child, the amount of CDA payable to the carer in relation to the child is the equivalent share of $1,000.

The payment is not indexed and is not regarded as income for the purposes of income tax or family assistance.

When is CDA payable?

Providing a CA payment is made for a child which includes 1 July, the CDA payment will also be made.

Each child for whom CA is paid will attract a separate payment.

A carer with 2 children with disabilities who do not individually have a qualifying score but who jointly qualify for CA will receive a payment of $1,000.

Carers whose claims are backdated to include 1 July will receive CDA.

A carer in receipt of bereavement payment for a CA child for 1 July will receive CDA for that child.

A carer in receipt of a HCC only but no CA instalment for a child will not receive CDA for that child.

Debt provisions

If all the CA paid to a carer for 1 July becomes a debt due to the Commonwealth, all of the CDA 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 CDA paid to the carer for that 1 July instalment also becomes a debt. The CDA 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).