Change of circumstances

We need to know about changes as they could increase, reduce or stop your Carer Allowance or Carer Allowance Health Care Card.

You must tell us within 14 days if any of the following circumstances changes.

When your circumstances change

You must tell us if you do any of the following by calling the Disability, sickness and carers line or by visiting a service centre. You:

  • stop giving care to the person you get Carer Allowance for
  • start sharing the care with someone else
  • stop sharing the care with someone else and become the main carer
  • and your current partner’s combined adjusted taxable income for the previous financial year was $250,000 or more
  • or your partner are 60 or more and get an account-based income stream.

You can tell us the following online or by calling or visiting us. You:

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in and select My details.

Sign in to myGov

If you don’t have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account you can create them.

When circumstances change for the person you care for

You must tell us if any of the following applies to the person you provide care for by calling the Disability, sickness and carers line or by visiting a service centre. They:

  • need less care
  • move into a care facility, such as an aged care home
  • die.

You can tell us the following online or by calling or visiting us. They:

  • change or correct their name
  • stop being a dependent child
  • travel outside Australia.

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in and select My details.

Sign in to myGov

If you don’t have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account you can create them.

To check who you’re getting a payment for, go to My Payments in your Centrelink online account.

What happens if you don’t tell us

If you don’t tell us about changes in your life, we may pay you too much. If this happens you’ll have to pay the money back.

If you deliberately don’t tell us about changes, you could be committing fraud.

Page last updated: 5 December 2024.
QC 40566