CARER ALLOWANCE is a fortnightly supplement if you give additional daily care to someone who has a disability or a medical condition.
A young person under the age of 16 with a “45 decibels or more hearing loss in the better ear, based on a 4 frequency pure tone average (using 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000Hz)” is automatically considered to be a child with a disability. You may also be eligible if you have more than one child who has hearing loss or a child who has additional needs. Click on the Department of Social Services guide below.
Carer Allowance for a child with higher needs is $136.50 each fortnight, and a Health Care Card for the child. Services Australia (see link) has a step-by-step guide for the claim process.
CARER PAYMENT is an income support payment if you give constant care to someone with a disability or a severe medical condition and, therefore, cannot work full time.
Carer payments are set to rise by $38.90 a fortnight for singles and $58.80 a fortnight for couples in late September 2022.
You may be able to get both Carer Payment and Carer Allowance at the same time.
Check out the Services Australia link above to see if you and your child are eligible.
More information:
- Guide to the list of recognised disabilities – Department of Social Services
- Carer allowance – Services Australia
- Payments you can get as a carer – Services Australia
- How to claim a Carer Allowance – Services Australia
- Financial assistance for families with a child with disability
