Carer Payment at 80 Hours of Care Per Week

At 80 hours of care per week, you are likely to meet the "constant care" requirement for Carer Payment. Centrelink generally considers care of 20 or more hours per week, combined with a qualifying ADAT (Adult Disability Assessment Tool) or DCLAD (Disability Care Load Assessment Determination) score, as meeting the constant care test. The care must be provided in the home of the person you are caring for. Providing 80 hours per week clearly demonstrates a high care load and strongly supports your claim.

Singles can earn up to $204 per fortnight before Carer Payment is reduced. Above that, your payment reduces by 50 cents for every dollar earned. Couples have a combined income free area of $360 per fortnight. Carer Allowance is NOT affected by income.

Single homeowners can have up to $314,000 in assets. Single non-homeowners: $566,000. Couple homeowners: $470,000 combined. Couple non-homeowners: $722,000 combined. Above these limits, Carer Payment reduces by $3 per fortnight for every $1,000 of excess assets.

As a Carer Payment recipient, you are entitled to 63 days of respite care per year (temporary cessation of care). During respite, you continue to receive Carer Payment. This can be used for holidays, hospitalisation of the person you care for, or any break from caring. Unused respite days do not carry over to the next year. Additional respite may be available in special circumstances (e.g., if the care receiver is hospitalised for an extended period). At 80 hours of care per week, respite is especially important for your own wellbeing — make sure you use your respite days.

You can work up to 25 hours per week (including travel time) while receiving Carer Payment, as long as you continue providing constant care. At 80 hours of care per week, combining work with caring requires careful planning. Your employment income is assessed under the income test.