Carers Payment is a regular cash payment from the Australian government to people who care for someone with a disability or medical condition
Carers Payment is an income support payment made by the Department of Social Services (now Services Australia). It goes to people who spend at least 25 hours per week caring for someone with a disability, severe illness, or terminal condition. The payment recognises that full-time caring work prevents you from earning your own income.
The payment is not a one-time grant. It arrives fortnightly into your bank account, and the amount depends on your personal circumstances, income, and assets. You must meet work and activity requirements set by Services Australia, which usually means reporting your care responsibilities and any changes to your situation.
Carers Payment is different from Carer Allowance, which is a smaller payment for people who care part-time. Carers Payment is for people whose caring role is their main activity.
Key Takeaways
- Carers Payment is a fortnightly payment from Services Australia for people who provide at least 25 hours of care per week to someone with a disability or serious medical condition.
- The payment amount varies based on your age, relationship to the person you care for, and your own income and assets.
- You must meet work and activity requirements, which usually involve reporting changes to your caring situation every two weeks.
- Carers Payment is not the same as Carer Allowance; Carers Payment is for full-time carers, while Carer Allowance is for part-time carers.
- The person you care for must have a medical condition or disability that is assessed and verified by Services Australia.
Who can receive Carers Payment
To receive Carers Payment, you must be at least 16 years old and an Australian resident. You must provide at least 25 hours of care per week to a person with a disability or medical condition. The person you care for does not have to be a family member—you can care for anyone who meets the medical requirements.
The person you care for must have a condition that Services Australia recognises as requiring substantial care. This includes people with intellectual disability, physical disability, mental illness, dementia, or terminal illness. Services Australia assesses the care needs of the person you support, not just your word for it.
You cannot receive Carers Payment if you are working more than a certain number of hours per week (this threshold varies) or if your income or assets exceed the limits set by Services Australia. These limits change each year.
How much Carers Payment pays
The fortnightly amount depends on several factors: your age, whether you are partnered, your own income, and your assets. As of 2024, the maximum fortnightly rate for a single person is higher than for a partnered person, and the rate for someone under 18 is lower than for someone 18 and over.
Services Australia reduces your payment if you earn income from work or other sources. The reduction starts once your income exceeds a threshold, and the amount you lose increases as your income rises. If your assets are above a certain level, your payment is also reduced.
The exact figures change twice per year (in March and September) when Services Australia adjusts payments for inflation. You can contact Services Australia or check their website to find the current rates for your situation.
How Carers Payment differs from Carer Allowance
Carer Allowance is a smaller, separate payment for people who provide care but do not meet the full-time requirement for Carers Payment. You can receive both payments at the same time if you meet the conditions for both.
Carer Allowance does not have a 25-hour minimum requirement and is not income-tested, meaning your own income does not reduce the payment. However, the fortnightly amount is much lower than Carers Payment. Carer Allowance is designed to help with the costs of caring, not to replace your income.
If you care for more than one person, you can receive Carer Allowance for each person you care for, but you can only receive one Carers Payment. This is an important distinction if you support multiple people.
Work and activity requirements for Carers Payment recipients
While receiving Carers Payment, you must meet work and activity requirements set by Services Australia. These requirements recognise that your caring role is your main activity, but you must still report changes to your situation.
You must report any change in your caring hours, income, assets, or living situation within 14 days. If the person you care for no longer needs the level of care you provide, or if you reduce your caring hours below 25 per week, your payment will stop. You must also report if you start work or increase your work hours.
Services Australia may contact you to verify that you are still meeting the requirements. If you do not report changes or fail to meet the requirements, your payment can be suspended or cancelled, and you may be asked to repay money.
How to report changes and stay compliant
You report changes to Services Australia through their online account (myGov), by phone, or in person at a service centre. The easiest method for most people is the online account, where you can update your income, work hours, and living situation without waiting on hold.
Keep records of your caring hours, any income you earn, and any changes to the person you care for's condition or needs. If Services Australia asks for evidence, you will need to provide documents like payslips, medical reports, or a letter from an employer. Having these ready makes the process faster.
If you receive a payment you were not may have access to to—because you did not report a change or your circumstances changed—Services Australia will ask you to repay it. This is called a debt. You can ask to set up a payment plan if you cannot repay the full amount at once.
What happens if your circumstances change
If the person you care for no longer needs 25 hours of care per week, your Carers Payment will stop. This might happen if their condition improves, they move into residential care, or they pass away. You must report this change within 14 days.
If you start working more hours or earn more income, your payment will be reduced or stopped depending on how much you earn. Some people continue to receive a reduced Carers Payment while working part-time; others find it is not worth continuing the payment if their income is high enough.
If you move out of Australia or change your residency status, your payment stops. If you are caring for someone who moves into aged care or hospital, the rules about your payment may change—contact Services Australia to check your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work while receiving Carers Payment?
Yes, you can work, but your income will reduce your payment. There is a threshold—once you earn above it, Services Australia reduces your payment by a percentage of the extra income. If you earn enough, your payment stops entirely. The exact threshold changes each year, so check with Services Australia for the current limit.
What if the person I care for goes into hospital or residential care?
If the person you care for is in hospital temporarily, your payment usually continues. If they move into permanent residential aged care, your Carers Payment stops, but you may be able to receive Carer Allowance instead. Contact Services Australia as soon as you know about the change so your payment is adjusted correctly.
Can I receive Carers Payment if I care for my adult child or parent?
Yes. Carers Payment is not limited to spouses or partners. You can receive it for caring for an adult child, parent, sibling, or anyone else, as long as they have a recognised disability or medical condition and need at least 25 hours of care per week.
What if I disagree with a decision Services Australia made about my payment?
You can ask Services Australia to explain the decision and provide written reasons. If you still disagree, you can lodge a formal review request. If you are unhappy with the review outcome, you can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), which is an independent body that hears disputes about government decisions.
Do I have to repay Carers Payment if I was overpaid?
Yes. If you received more than you were may have access to to—because you did not report a change or made a mistake—Services Australia will ask you to repay the overpayment. You can request a payment plan if you cannot pay it back in one lump sum, and you can ask Services Australia to review the debt if you believe the overpayment was not your fault.