FaCS is responsible for income support, housing policy, community support, disability services, child care services and family issues, including family payments, child support and family relationships. Its responsibilities include Centrelink, which delivers income support payments and services on behalf of FaCS.
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Phone 1300 653 227
Nearly 130,000 carers make use of respite and carer support services each year. To alleviate strain these services, the Rudd Government have announced $6.9million in additional funding.
The $6.9million is in addition to the $420 million promised in the Budget two weeks ago, to provide respite and carer support services over the next three years. Announced by the Minister for Ageing Mrs Justine Elliot on 20 May, the money will be distributed as one-off grants through the National Respite for Carers Program and Commonwealth Carelink Program.
A survey in 2003 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, showed that 2.6 million carers were providing assistance to people who needed help due to disability or age. Just over half of carers are woman and 39% of those providing care were in 35-54 year age range. Many carers put their own lives on hold to look after relatives, and are often responsible for the financial needs, as well as the physical and mental demands of their charges.
If you’re a carer or know of one who could do with a break, find out how Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres can help.
Lifestyle, health and financial matters are all covered in Australian Retiree - Your Choices a booklet from FaCS for retired people and their families. It is aimed primarily at self-funded retirees. The booklet includes Commonwealth benefits, such as the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, to which many self-funded retirees may be eligible, State and Territory and local government services and concessions available to retirees, major organisations which represent retirees’ interests, State Seniors Cards which can help retirees gain a range of discounts, and useful information on leisure activities.
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Home and Residence Choices for Older People is another booklet from FaCS which aims to help older Australians, their families and those who care for them, with important lifestyle and housing decisions.
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Moving House - Your Choice aims to help older Australians (both pre- and post-retirement) improve their lifestyle through the choices they make about their housing. It provides a practical and independent guide to buying, selling or renting, and the actual move. There are also suggestions about how to make modifications or repairs for those who do not want to move, and useful tips for building a new house.
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Understanding Retirement Income Streams has been written by the Australian Retirement Income Streams Association Limited (ARISA) with assistance from FaCS. It explains retirement income streams in detail and discusses how to use them. Retirement income streams (investments that allow retirees to obtain regular income and capital payments) are a popular investment choice for retirees.
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For details on the department’s support for carers and disability programs.
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Australia has international social security agreements. Generally, agreements allow Australian residents to maximise their income by helping them to claim payments from other countries where they have spent part of their working life. The other countries generally count periods of Australian working life residence as periods of social insurance in order to meet their minimum qualifying periods for payment. Usually, each country will pay a part pension to a person who has lived in both countries. For more information, try the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
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