Extra support for carers
Support for carers
Tim cares for his daughter Sandra who has a severe disability. Tim is a single parent and provides daily care and attention to Sandra. Tim receives Carer Allowance (child) payments in addition to the Carer Payment pension.
Tim will benefit from the pension reform package as his Carer Payment pension and supplement will increase by $32.49 a week.
In addition, Tim will receive a $1,200 annual Carer Supplement — $600 per annum because he receives both the Carer Payment and the Carer Allowance.
This Carer Supplement is a permanent payment and is in addition to the Child Disability Assistance Payment of $1,000 per annum that Tim receives to care for Sandra.
As a result of the reforms, Tim will now have greater ongoing financial security in his role as a carer for Sandra.
The Government recognises the vital role that carers play for the people they care for and the community more broadly. Carer Payment recipients will receive the pension increases announced in the pension reform package, including an additional $32.49 a week for singles on the full rate.
In addition, in recognition of the special role carers play and the costs they bear, the Government is providing them with more support. The Government will introduce a permanent Carer Supplement of $600 per annum for Carer Payment recipients and an additional $600 per annum for Carer Allowance recipients for each eligible person in their care.
The supplement will replace the previous Budget one‑off bonuses and will ensure ongoing and certain assistance for carers. The first payment will be made on or before 30 June 2009, with subsequent annual payments from 1 July 2010, at a cost to the Budget of $1.8 billion over five years.
This payment is a permanent increase in assistance paid to carers, and in addition to the existing Child Disability Assistance Payment of $1,000 a year for carers who receive Carer Allowance (child).
This builds upon the Government's decision in March 2008 to extend the Utilities Allowance to Carer Payment recipients, currently valued at $518.80 per annum.
