Carer Adjustment Payment
What is the Carer Adjustment Payment?
The Carer Adjustment Payment is an ex gratia scheme providing one-off financial assistance to families in exceptional circumstances who do not qualify for Carer Payment (child).Carer Payment (child) provides income support to people who, because of the demands of their caring role, are unable to support themselves through substantial workforce participation. Carer Payment (child) is income and assets tested and paid at the same rate as other social security pensions.
Who is Eligible
The Carer Adjustment Payment is available to families where, following a catastrophic event involving a young child aged 0-6 years, the family is going through a period of significant adjustment as a result of the child's care needs.The Carer Adjustment Payment is to assist families with additional costs during their adjustment period immediately after the event. To be eligible, at least some part of the immediate adjustment period must fall on, after, or close to 1 January 2007, the scheme's start date.
Examples of catastrophic events may include (but are not limited to) a serious or severe illness or medical condition such as childhood cancer or childhood stroke, or an event such as a car accident, fire, fall, poisoning, near drowning, or other type of accident.
Eligibility criteria
Families may qualify for assistance through the Carer Adjustment Payment where, following a catastrophic event:- the child, aged 0-6 years, has a severe illness or medical condition, or a major disability due to injury from an accident; and
- the child has significant care requirements - that is, requires full-time care from the carer for a minimum of two months following the incident; and
- the child's carer qualifies for Carer Allowance in respect of the child; and
- the carer is not qualified for and receiving Carer Payment; and
- the carer and/or their partner is not qualified for and receiving an alternative income support payment; and
- the carer is able to demonstrate a very strong need for financial support during the adjustment period after the catastrophic event.
How much is payable?
The Carer Adjustment Payment is a one-off non-taxable payment available to families in exceptional circumstances.The amount payable to a family will depend on each family's individual circumstances. The maximum amount any family can receive is $10,000 for each child in a single catastrophic event.
Making a Case
Applications for the Carer Adjustment Payment are considered on a case-by-case basis by an independent panel of experts with medical, carer and payment expertise.Carers will need to present their case by setting out their circumstances and the ways in which the family needs extra support and assistance during the adjustment period.
This may include disruptions to things like the carer's capacity to work and/or the care arrangements for the child or other children in the family.
Claim forms
For Carer Adjustment Payment claim forms:- visit your local Centrelink office
- telephone 13 27 17, or
- visit the Centrelink website