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If you meet the Carer Allowance income test, your income doesn’t affect how much Carer Allowance you can get.
This payment doesn’t add to your taxable income.
The Department of Social Services review the payment rates on 1 January each year.
You may also get the Economic Support Payment. We’ll pay this into your bank account automatically.
If you’re providing care to someone 16 or older
Carer Allowance is $136.50 each fortnight. There is no Health Care Card for the person you provide care for.
If you’re providing care for a child under 16
Carer Allowance is either:
- for a child with higher needs: $136.50 each fortnight and a Health Care Card for the child
- for a child with lower needs: a Health Care Card for the child.
Shared care
If you share care of the child and the other parent is not your partner:
- you get part of the payment
- the other carer gets the rest, based on how much care you each provide.