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Carer supplement (CS) is an annual payment to carers who receive an instalment of a qualifying payment for a period including 1 July. It is paid in addition to the eligible primary payment.
Act reference: SSAct section 992X Carer supplement for 2009 and later years
A payment of $600 will be paid to recipients of CA for each person being cared for whom they receive an instalment of payment including 1 July.
An additional $600 CS will also be paid to recipients of:
A person may qualify for more than one CS. (See table for details.)
Note: There are special payment rules relating to shared care and combined care rules for CA.
|
If a person receives |
Then they are entitled to |
|
Carer allowance |
One CS of $600. |
|
CA AND CP |
Two amounts of CS totalling $1,200. |
|
Two CAs AND CP |
Three amounts of CS totalling $1,800. |
|
CA AND WP |
Two amounts of CS totalling $1,200. |
|
CA AND DVA partner service pension |
Two amounts of CS totalling $1,200. |
|
CA AND DVA carer service pension |
Two amounts of CS totalling $1,200. |
|
CA where 2 carers are paid under shared care arrangements for the same care receiver |
CS will be shared and paid in the same ratio as CA under existing arrangements.. |
|
A HCC only CA (child) but NOT CA |
Not entitled to CS.. |
|
CA where 2 care receivers combined attract one payment of CA |
One CS of $600. |
Payment of CS for CA and eligible DVA payments will be made automatically into the same account as recipients receive their CA payment. Payment of CS for CP and WP will be made automatically into the same account as recipients receive their income support payment. There is no need for a separate claim to be made.
The payment is not indexed and is not regarded as income for the purposes of income tax or for family assistance payments.
For recipients who are identified as being income managed the CS will be 100% income managed.
Carers' whose claims are backdated to include 1 July will be eligible to receive CS.
Carers who received a bereavement payment for a CA child including 1 July will receive CS for that year.
A carer in a bereavement period for an eligible income support payment including 1 July will receive the CS.
Policy reference: SS Guide 3.6.7.160 Backdating Start Day for CA
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 subsection 981(1).
Act reference: SSAct section 1223ABD Debts in respect of carer supplement for 2010 and later years
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Last reviewed: 3 January 2012
