Help with Carer Support
Carer Allowance
What it is: A fortnightly payment for a person who needs to give additional daily care to someone who has a disability or serious illness or is frail aged, and a Health Care Card for your child.
Eligibility: People who care for a child aged under 16 who has a disability or serious illness and lives with you (CF is on the Australian Government’s List of Recognised Disabilities). If caring for a person aged 16 years and older, the carer must provide constant care in the home of a person who has a severe disability or severe illness or is frail aged.
Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) Health Care Card
What it is: Reduces the cost of health care, including through cheaper PBS medications. You may also get a discount on electricity, gas and water bills and motor vehicle registration if the bills and Card are in the same name. You need to renew the Card each year.
Eligibility: People aged between 16 and 25 years of age who are a full time student and their parent or carer had a Carer Allowance Health Care Card for them on the day before they turned 16.
Carer Payment
What it is: A payment for people who are unable to work in substantial paid employment because they provide full time daily care to someone with a severe medical condition, severe disability, or to someone who is frail aged.
Eligibility: People who provide constant care in the home of a person who has a severe disability or severe illness or is aged. People must also meet the income and assets tests and not receive any another income support payment.
Child Disability Assistance Payment
What it is: An annual payment to people who receive the Carer Allowance.
Eligibility: There is no need to apply, it is automatically paid.