Carers – are you eligible for a government payment?
As we age our bodies and minds start to become a little less stronger. We will find that we are relying on care provided by relatives, our partners or by the government.
The role of the individual carer is extremely important and in many cases, a selfless act for a person that they love.
There are 2.7 million unpaid carers in Australia of which approximately 856,000 are primary carers, those who provide most of the ongoing informal assistance to a person. Two-thirds of these primary carers are females with an average age of 55.
To assist these unpaid carers, the government does offer three payments. These payments will depend on the carer’s circumstances and the level of care that they are providing.
The first of these payments is the Carer Payment. This payment is similar to the age pension and is subject to the same income and assets test that is applicable to the age pension. However, there is also an income and assets test which is applied to the care receiver and if the care receiver’s income and assets are above these levels then no Carer Payment can be made to the carer. The current maximum Carer Payment for a single person is $916.30 per fortnight.
The second payment is the Carer Allowance. This is a fortnightly payment, currently $129.80 which can be paid in addition to the Carer payment, is not subject to an assets test but is subject to an annual adjusted taxable income threshold of $250,000.
The third payment is the Carer Supplement which is an annual lump sum payment of $600 paid to assist with the costs of caring for a person with a disability or a medical condition. You are entitled to this payment if you are receiving either the Carer Payment or the Carer Allowance.
All these payments are subject to the provision of medical evidence to show that the care receiver does have a severe disability, medical condition or is very frail in their old age and do require substantial daily care.
This is a complex area, so if you feel that in your current situation you are providing a substantial level of care for a parent, partner or any person, you may qualify for one or all three payments, do not hesitate talk to someone who is able to help and provide direction.
Source: Mark Teale | Centrepoint Alliance
