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Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

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Budget 2007-08 > What's New What's Different

Health Care Card for ex-Carer Allowance (child) students aged 16-25 years

What's New?

The Australian Government will further assist those young people with disabilities and medical conditions by extending the benefits of a Health Care Card (HCC).

Approximately 25,000 full time students aged 16-25 years, who are ex-Carer Allowance (child) care receivers will now be eligible for a HCC. This $19.3 million initiative will help students and their families in managing their on-going medical costs.

With these changes, all students who received the Carer Allowance (child) HCC at the time they turned 16 years will continue to have access to a HCC while they are full-time students until they reach 25 years of age.

At present only those students who qualify for a Low Income HCC or an alternative income support payment, such as Disability Support Pension, have access to a concession card after they turn 16 years of age.

Background

Carer Allowance (child) is an income supplement available to people who provide daily care and attention in a private home to a dependent child under 16 years, who has a disability or severe medical condition. Carer Allowance (child) recipients also receive a HCC in the name of the care receiver child, to assist with the child's medical expenses. In 2005-06 there were 125,593 Carer Allowance (child) care receivers and 20,635 children for whom a HCC only was received.

Implementation:

The measure will be implemented from 1 October 2007.

Total Government Funding:

$19.3 million over four years.