Carer Payment and financial support

Am I eligible for Carer Payment in the final weeks?

Carer Payment is an income support payment for people who provide constant, full-time care to a person with a severe medical condition. In the final weeks of a terminal illness, the care needs are at their most intense, and Carer Payment is specifically designed to replace income for carers who cannot work because of this.

If you have not already applied for Carer Payment and you are providing full-time care, apply immediately. Payments are not backdated earlier than the date of application. Every week you wait is a week's payment lost.

To apply, call Centrelink on 132 717 or visit a Services Australia service centre. The GP or treating specialist will need to complete a medical report as part of the assessment. Bring the form to the next medical appointment rather than waiting for Centrelink to send it separately.

What is Carer Allowance and can I receive both?

Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment for people providing daily care and attention, and can be received in addition to Carer Payment. It is also available to people who are still working part-time alongside their caring role, and who do not qualify for Carer Payment.

Apply for both Carer Payment and Carer Allowance simultaneously. The application forms can be submitted at the same time.

How do I apply for Carer Payment and Carer Allowance?

You can apply for Carer Payment and Carer Allowance online through myGov, by phone on 132 717, or in person at a Services Australia service centre. You will need: identification documents for yourself and the person you are caring for, your income and assets information, and a medical report from the treating doctor.

Ask your GP or specialist to complete the medical report at the same appointment where you collect the form. This avoids delays from having to return to collect the completed form later. The doctor is familiar with these requests and it takes only a few minutes to complete.

If the situation is urgent, tell Centrelink at the time of application. They can expedite urgent assessments for people in the final stage of a terminal illness.

What leave am I entitled to as a carer?

If you are employed, you may be entitled to use personal leave (sick leave) to care for a family member. Under the National Employment Standards, employees are entitled to use up to 10 days of personal/carer's leave per year to care for an immediate family member with a serious illness.

Speak to your employer or HR department about what is available. Some employers offer additional paid or unpaid compassionate leave for employees caring for a seriously ill family member. Many employers are more flexible than the formal entitlements require when the circumstances are explained clearly.

If you need to take unpaid leave or reduce your hours significantly, a Carer Payment application is particularly important, as it provides income support to replace what has been reduced or lost.

What other Centrelink support is available to me?

Beyond Carer Payment and Carer Allowance, check whether you or the person you are caring for may be entitled to: a Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card (which reduces the cost of medications and some services), PBS SafetyNet (which eliminates medication co-payments once a threshold is reached in a calendar year), or Mobility Allowance (if the person has difficulty using public transport).

Ask Centrelink directly about all concessions and payments you may be eligible for. The online payment finder at servicesaustralia.gov.au/paymentfinder gives a quick assessment of what is available based on your circumstances.

What is Bereavement Payment and when do I apply?

After the death, the surviving partner may be entitled to a Bereavement Payment from Centrelink, equivalent to approximately 14 weeks of the couple rate of income support. This payment must be claimed within 14 weeks of the death and does not pay automatically.

Knowing this now means you can act quickly after the death rather than discovering the entitlement weeks later. When you notify Centrelink of the death, ask specifically about Bereavement Payment at that time.