Change of circumstances

We need to know about changes as they could increase, reduce or stop your Carer Payment.

What to tell us

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

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 providing care for the person or child
  • start sharing the care with someone else.

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

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 from you or they’re now in someone else’s care
  • move to an aged care facility
  • die.

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

  • temporarily go into respite care or they’re hospitalised
  • stop being a dependent child
  • move to another state or territory without you
  • go to live outside Australia, or they travel overseas for a holiday.

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.

What happens if you don’t tell us

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

If you deliberately don’t tell us when your circumstances change, you could be committing fraud.

What you can do when you reach Age Pension age

If you’re getting Carer Payment and reach Age Pension age, you can transfer to Age Pension.

Read about the differences before you choose between Carer Payment and Age Pension when you reach Age Pension age.

Page last updated: 3 December 2024.
QC 29871