To be eligible for Carer Supplement, you must be in receipt of one of the following payments on 1 July of each year:

  • Carer Allowance
  • Carer Payment
  • Wife Pension with Carer Allowance (you can no longer make a new claim for Wife Pension)
  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs Partner Service Pension with Carer Allowance
  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs Carer Service Pension

Payment rates for Carer Supplement

The Carer Supplement is an ongoing, non-indexed annual lump-sum payment.

Eligible recipients of Carer Payment, Wife Pension (Age), Wife Pension (DSP), Department of Veterans’ Affairs Carer Service Pension, and Department of Veterans’ Affairs partner service pension receive $600.

All Carer Allowance recipients will receive a Carer Supplement up to $600 for each eligible person in their care. Some carers will receive two or more Carer Supplements, and those receiving a part-rate of Carer Allowance under shared-care arrangements will receive a proportion of the Carer Supplement.

Carer Supplement details

Carer Supplement is paid annually to carers who receive a qualifying payment for a period including 1 July. It is paid in addition to the eligible payment.

Child Disability Assistance Payment and Carer Supplement

Eligibility for Child Disability Assistance Payment is independent of eligibility for Carer Supplement.

The Carer Supplement and income-managed customers

The Carer Supplement is entirely income-managed.

Carer Allowance Health Care Card and the Carer Supplement

You have to receive an instalment of the eligible payments to receive the Carer Supplement.

Shared-care arrangements

For Carer Allowance customers who receive a proportion of Carer Allowance because they share the care with another person, Carer Supplement will be paid in the same ratios as Carer Allowance under their existing arrangements.

First steps

Receiving the Carer Supplement payment

You do not need to apply for Carer Supplement. We will automatically make the payment into the bank account of eligible customers. A letter will be sent to people who receive the payment.

Changes to Carer Supplement

Carers receiving an eligible income-support payment whose payment for 1 July has been reduced to nil because of earnings will now qualify for the annual Carer Supplement.