Carer Payments
What is a carer?
About Seniors subscriber, Carol, does a fantastic job looking after her elderly parents but would like to know if she meets the criteria to be classed as a carer.
Q. Carol
Would you mind explaining to me your definition of a “carer”, as to hours that need to be spent, ability, any particular duties etc? I am caring for my two elderly parents, both 88-years old and wanting to stay in their own home, and am usually at their home anything from 8 - 10 hours per day, applying medications, meals, cleaning, showering, cleaning, gardening, appointments to doctors, and of course anything else that arises. Their medical doctor says I am doing a wonderful job, as does their physio.
A. Provided by Centrelink
In general, daily care means help with the basic activities of daily living such as mobility, bathing, feeding, grooming, treatment, communication and safety, including supervising, monitoring and/or prompting the care receiver to undertake these activities.
There are two types of assistance available for people who are carers:
Carer Payment (caring for a person 16 years or over) can provide you with income support if because of the demands of your caring role you are unable to support yourself through substantial paid employment. You may receive Carer Payment if, in the home of the person being cared for, you provide constant care on a daily basis for a person aged 16 years or over who has a severe disability or severe medical condition or who is frail aged. Here’s a link to the eligibility requirements for - Carers Payment
Carer Allowance (caring for a person 16 years or over) is a supplementary payment that may be available to you if you are a parent or carer who provides daily care and attention for a person aged 16 years or over with a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability or someone who is frail aged. Carer Allowance is not income and asset tested and may be paid in addition to wages or other payments such as Carer Payment and Age Pension. Here’s a link to the eligibility requirements for Carer Allowance.
Without knowing your individual circumstances, it’s difficult to determine if you would be eligible for this assistance. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to contact Centrelink to test your eligibility for Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance. You can do this by calling 13 27 17 or by visiting your local Customer Service Centre.
How much for carers?
Carers were finally recognised in Wayne Swan’s Federal budget last week but as About Seniors subscriber, Mike, highlights, there is still some confusion about just what benefits carers will get.
Q. Mike
I am querying the eligibility for receipt of the $600 supplement for those receiving the carers allowance.
My wife receives the Aged Pension and the Carers Allowance while I am in receipt of a Disability Support Pension.
As a result of the budget proposals will my wife be eligible to receive the annual $600 payment.
A. From the information you have given us, your wife will be eligible for the $600 payment under her Carer Allowance.
The Carer Supplement is part of the Secure and Sustainable Pension reforms.
It applies to those on Carer Payment and Carer Allowance. It will be paid to each holder of Carer Payment. Those on Carer Allowance will receive the bonus for each person in their care for whom they receive the Allowance. It will be paid in June this year and then in July each year from 2010.
For more information, visit About Seniors carers connection page.
A concerned daughter
Rhonda’s question concerns whether she will be able to claim a carer’s allowance should she return from overseas to look after her father.
Q. Rhonda
I am an Australian citizen who is living abroad. I am 61 years old. My father has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and is 85 years old. I want to return to Australia to care for him. He has been given up to only 18 months to live. Due to my age, however, I have no way of supporting myself if I go there. He is getting to the point where it is difficult for him to shop for himself etc, and he cannot take care of his home. He also recently lost his wife and is very lonely. I am wondering if I would qualify for a carer’s pension?
A. It’s always difficult arranging the right type of care for our parents and loved ones, especially when we’re not living close by.
With regards to you providing care for your father, you may be eligible for the Carer’s Payment through Centrelink. As an Australian Citizen you meet the residency requirements although you must be resident in Australia when you lodge your claim. This payment is means and asset tested. Your father also needs to meet the following criteria:
· be over 16 and getting an income support payment from Centrelink, a Veterans’ Affairs Service Pension or Partner Service Pension, or
· be unable to get any of these payments because they have not lived in Australia long enough to qualify, or
· meet the special care receiver income and assets limits, and
· be an Australian resident.
You will appreciate that this is only basic information, as your individual circumstances will need to be taken into consideration. I suggest you contact Centrelink to discuss your individual needs before you make any decision. They have dedicated international numbers depending on the country from which you are calling, (see below). You can also access basic information from their website, by clicking here
Calling from Austria: 0800 295 165
Calling from Canada: 1888 2557 493
Calling from Denmark: 8088 3556
Calling from Germany: 0800 1802 482
Calling from Greece: 0080 0611 26209
Calling from Italy: 800 781 977
Calling from the Netherlands: 0800 0224 364
Calling from New Zealand: 0800 441 248
Calling from the Philippines: 1800 1611 0046
Calling from Portugal: 800 861 122
Calling from Spain: 900 951 547
Calling from Turkey: 00 800 6190 5703
Calling from the United Kingdom: 0800 1695 865
Calling from the U.S.A: 1866 3433 086
Please Note: (These free call numbers may not be available from every location within the country, and may not be free from mobile phones or public phones. Customers may need to insert coins/card in pay phones as for a local call and this may not be refunded at the end of the call.)
To call from other countries, or if the above numbers are unavailable, try +613 6222 3455.
Carers
Are you caring for someone who is frail, aged or has a disability? Centrelink can help. For more information phone Centrelink on 13 2717 or click here
Carer Payment is a payment for carers who, because of the demands of their caring role, are unable to support themselves through substantial participation in the workforce.
Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment available to parents or carers who provide daily care and attention for adults and children with a severe disability or medical condition. Carer Allowance may be paid on top of Carer Payment or other payments, such as Age Pension. A claim for Carer Allowance can be based on the assessment of a health professional, without the need for a final diagnosis, if it is evident the person needs personal care and will continue to need it for at least 12 months.
From 1 July 2006, legislative changes came into effect that enable new claims for Carer Allowance to be backdated for up to 12 weeks from the date a carer advises Centrelink they intend to claim the payment. The backdating provisions for carers of adults are only available if the care needs are due to the acute onset of a medical condition, such as a stroke. For more information about payments when you care for an adult (16 years and over) click here For more information about payments when you care for a child (under 16 years) click here
Planning for the future
Extra assistance for older carers was announced on 28 June 2007. This new initiative will help to support older carers aged 65 years and over, who receive Carer Allowance for caring for an immediate family member aged 40 years and over who is in receipt of Disability Support Pension. The transition support worker will assist older carers and the immediate family member with a disability to consider and plan for their future care needs. The transition support worker will provide information about the new in-home support, respite and accommodation programs.
Employment Preparation may be available for carers returning to the workforce. For more information about Employment Preparation phone 1300 363 037.
Carers Australia is the national peak body for carers, representing the needs and interests of carers at the national level. The members of Carers Australia comprise the eight state and territory Carers Associations. Phone 1800 242 636 or click here
Carer Associations are located in each State and Territory. They can provide carer-related information, support and advice to carers, including assistance through a 1800 network. These centres also arrange professional counselling for carers through the National Carer Counselling Program. For more information phone your local Carer Association on 1800 242 636.
Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres provide a single contact point for detailed information on local respite services and help carers get the respite that meets their individual needs. Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres can be contacted on 1800 059 059.
