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, 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.
This supplement will replace the previous Budget one-off bonuses. The first payment will be made on or before 30 June 2009.
Article by Christie Lewis
Christie is Practice Manager at Alan Lewis Accountants . Besides accounting, her passion is for all things small business (and blogging, of course). You can contact Christie directly at christie@lewistaxation.com.au.
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{ 131 comments… read them below or add one }
this new bonuse for carers does it replace all the bonuses or just the one in June i am confused
Hi Iyla,
I’m still trawling through the Budget myself right now but my initial understanding is that it replaces the usual carer bonus paid to recipients of the Carer Allowance/Payment the past couple of years (usually just prior to tax time). The new supplement will be ongoing and non-taxable. You’ll recall the other carer bonus payments were regarded as one-off in nature.
The only definate information I have for you at this stage is that it will be $600 p.a to all Carer Allowance recipients for each person being cared for; and
$600 p.a to all Carer Payment recipients (if memory serves, I think the last one-off bonus for carers was $1,000 and $600 though I could be mistaken… it’s late after all).
Of special note for many carers is that people who receive both Carer Payment and Carer Allowance will be eligible for both payments.
The existing Child Disability Assistance Payment of $1,000 each year for carers who are paid Carer Allowance (child) will continue.
I expect that you are still confused. Hopefully once we’ve all had a chance to digest the budget – and eventually get some sleep – we’ll be able to provide more detailed information on all budget announcements.
hi, do you know when this carer payment will arrive thanku
Hi Louise,
The first $600 carer supplement payment will be made on or before 30 June (I know, that’s a bit vague). I expect we’ll have more definate dates closer to the end of the financial year.
Hi. I know we are going to get a $600 lump sum at 30th June but could you please tell me what is happening with the other $600. Is it being paid in a lump sum & if so, when. If not, then I guess it will be paid f/nightly.
Hi, I receive the Carer’s Allowance (not carer payment) and wanted to know if we still receive the $600 in a lump sum at the end of June PLUS the standard $1,000 lump sum after July 2009. Thank you !!
RE: Hi, I receive the Carer’s Allowance (not carer payment)
I receive carer’s allowance also and believe you get $600 per person in care and NO $1000.
Sorry I receive Carer’s Allowance Adult… if you receive Carer’s Allowance for child then the existing Child Disability Assistance Payment of $1,000 each year for carers who are paid Carer Allowance (child) will continue.
I get the carer allowance for my son. I actually phoned Centrelink yesterday. I was told the $600 will be paid by the end of June and the $1000 is ongoing every July as long as you are still receiving carer allowance on the 1st July each year. No definite date was given for either.
Thanks for clarifying that for everyone, Wendy.
I am surprised how many people have the patience to ring Centrelink. Perhaps it was my timing, but when I was trying to get some answers regarding several of the recent stimulus payments for clients and blog contributors, I couldn’t seem to get through for days!
HI Kirsten,
As Chrissy has pointed out, the current Child Disability Assistance Payment of $1,000 each year for carers who are paid Carer Allowance (child) will still continue.
I am confused.. excuse my ignorance, please.. but what is the $1000 Child Disability Assistance Payment? I am a carer and have no clue what you are talking about
Hi Kristy,
You’re not alone. I’m perpetually feeling ignorant and confused when it comes to Centrelink entitlements!
Since 2007 the Child Disability Assistance Payment has been a $1000 yearly lump sum. This is made for a child with disability under 16 years who attracts a payment of Carer Allowance for their carer.
CA(child), as I am sure you know, is a payment for parents or carers who provide daily care and attention for children under 16 with a disability or severe medical condition at home. This might include the $105.10 fortnightly payment, a Health Care Card for the child or a combination of both these entitlements. Apparently CA recipients whose children entitle them to receive a Health Care Card only are not entitled to receive this $1,000 assistance payment.
It is usually paid in early July into the same account you would receive the carer allowance. I’ve been trying to locate a Centrelink page I can direct you to but they have surprisingly little information available. You might want to look at this FaHCSIA page (it was the most recently updated info I could track down for you) http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/carers/payments/Pages/ChildDisabilityAssistancePayment.aspx
Thanks for the info, maybe I am just incredibly confused. But I don’t recall ever receiving this!!
I’ve been receiving CA since about 2004! Maybe I need to look back over my records or something.. It’s possible that my recent lack of sleep is making me a little more forgetful than usual……….
hi
I just want to find out exactly what i am entitled to. I get CA for 3 children, 1 of which i have been receiving for approx 18months and the other 2 for only approx 4 months. I am summising that i will get 3 x $600 June 30th and 3 x $1000 in July. Is this right? i have tried to look it up on my payments via Centrelink but nothing is showing as yet. Thanks for your help
Cheryl
ok, My niece recieves carer ALLOWANCE for 3 of her children and she is entitled to 3x $600 in june which is paid in the mid of June, (I recieved mine today as I care for one child under 16. The government introduced in this budget that carers that care for a child under 16 also now get an additional $1000, which should be paid around the time of your 1st payment in July. These payments do not affect the FTB we also recieve in July-August if you are eligible, and that payment is due from the 2nd of july until sometime in august, but make sure you call centrelink to let them know that you don’t put a tax return in or it will hold up your FTB payments. I hope this info helped a little.
Hi again
i was also wondering if you knew anything about the Carer Adjustment Payment. I was told about it via an Autism Speech. I filled in the paperwork over 6 weeks ago but have heard nothing so far yet. I know of people who have received $4000 for their child who was diagnosed with Aspergers, their paperwork was processed and payment made in 2 weeks so i am presuming that my application was not successful. My daughter was diagnosed with Mild autism late last year but because she turned 6 in march and started school i was not entitled to any funding by Austism Vic. She was also in Early Intervention but this option is no longer available to her due to her starting school. She still requires some help with speech & OT. I am moving to Brisbane in 2 weeks hoping for a wider range of help facilities. My younger two are showing ADHD tendencies and are awaiting further investigation by peads. If anyone has any helpful information, i would be grateful as i feel as though i am banging my head against a brick wall at the moment. Thanyou
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
I’ll see what I can fiind out about the Adjustment Payment for you and report back if I come up with anything useful.
Regarding your daughter now being school, have you worked with the school to obtain funding through the Dept of Ed for her?
Our son was diagnosed with classic autism at just 2 years of age. Despite being told for years he was also significantly intellectually disabled and this would not change, he has come leaps and bounds over the last 18 months – he’s 7 now and, depending a little on his mood and environment, I doubt a casual observer would even notice he’s a bit ‘delayed’ for his age.
We fought very hard to come to a point where we could get him into a mainstream school – the best thing we ever did! He worked very hard too with various daily therapy from age 2 – he didn’t really start talking until he was 4/5 so we all learned Makaton signs and now he never stops talking. We do have a private speech pathologist work in the classroom with him a couple of hours each fortnight but we were able to secure sufficient funding for an aide to assist him at school in the classroom and socially outside of it (she helps with OT too).
Regarding speech, children with a diagnosis of autism can now claim speech through Medicare provided the specialist applies for this for you. I only discovered this late last year (after 4 years of private speech) and I can’t tell you what a blessing it has been… I now receive back around half of the cost of a session (we pay $60 per 30 mins and I can get back $32 of that). When you’re spending more on speech, physio and OT then groceries and other living expenses, every bit helps!
Well, I seem to have rambled on long enough without answering your question so I shall leave it there for now. Maybe one of our other readers has had some experience with the Carer Adjustment Payment and can provide some first-hand info.
thanks for that and yes i am going to get 20 OT visits thru Medicare. From my understanding this is available to me once a year? We are in Vic at the moment, shifting to Brissy in 2 weeks and the current school thinks that she is OK and prob doesnt need any school funding to help her so i will have to sort out some private speech for her. just want to find out exactly what i am entitled to. I get CA for 3 children, 1 of which i have been receiving for approx 18months and the other 2 for only approx 4 months. I am summising that i will get 3 x $600 June 30th and 3 x $1000 in July. Is this right? i have tried to look it up on my payments via Centrelink but nothing is showing as yet. Thanks for your help
I only heard about the Carer Adjustment Payment through a friend who attended a Autism night. The payment is a one of Payment of up to $10000 per child for any catasrophe or severe medical condition. I think that this is only available until the end of June but i did hear that it was extended. You can download the application via the Centrelink website. I have heard that families have received up to $6000 for their child who was diagnosed with Aspergers. It was only by chance that i heard about it, i do know that you have to be receiving CA (child) to be eligible and the diagnosis has to be fairly recent and the child involved has to be aged 6 and under. That is all i know but i hope that this information is helpful to others.
Hello
Iam confused also. I receive carere’s allowance for my 1 year old son and have only been receiving it for 3 months. What is the $1000 Child Disability Assistance Payment? and am I eligible?
Hi Jody,
This is usually paid in July some time. To qualify you simply need to be receiving Carer Allowance(child) at 1 July. It should be paid automaticlaly by Centrelink into the same account you currently receive the carer allowance into.
i start get carer’s allowance last august and i got then 1000 dollars. would like to ask if the government still give you 1200 per child for your tax and do we still get 1000 or is it 600 now does our 105 a fortnight go up????
thanks
Hi Kelly,
There have been a lot of bonus and top-up payments over the past few years. I’m trying hard to work out which specific payments people are asking about in each comment. The only payment I can think of offhand relating to ‘per child for your tax’, would be the Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement and Family Tax Benefit Part B Supplement. For the 2007/08 year this was $667.95 per child (part A) plus $324.85 per family (part B), bringing it to just under a thousand dollars for a household with one child. Does that sounds like the payment you mean?
If so, the FTB A and B supplements will continue this year and have increased a little to $686.20 per child (part A) and $335.80 per family (part B). Keep in mind that these are the maximum rates and could be lower for some people depending on their entitlement. The supplement is paid automatically after you and your partner have lodged your tax returns with the ATO and Family Assistance have done a reconcilliation – they do this becuase if it turns out you have received too much child care rebate or FTB they can offset the supplement against any overpayment.
The $600 referred to in the above post is in regard to carers only, though if you receive FTB and a carer allowance for a child you’ll get both the FTB supplement and the new carer supplement.
You’ll still get your $1,000 Child Disability Assistance Payment . This will continue to be paid to carers who receive Carer Allowance (child) for a child under 16.
It doesn’t look like the carer allowance is going up, however the carer payment will increase along with the other pension increases announced in the budget (up $32.49 a week).
Hi, does anyone know an approx date this will be paid? and how long do u have to be on carers allowance to be eligible for the payments?
Hi Mel,
I want to confirm this for you, but I’m pretty sure you’ll qualify if you’re receiving carer’s at 1 July. This is the case according to the Social Secury Act with regard to the $1,000 Child Disability Assistance Payment. I expect it will be the same for the new $600 Carer Supplement.
Of course, I’m really just guessing here. As the blog and my inbox have received so many carer bonus questions, I hope to make some time Sunday to bring myself fully up-to-date with all information released thus far.
In the meantime, if anyone can contribute more please feel free to do so!
thanks for your help with understanding this! I wish the government made everything a little clearer than what they have! Do you have any idea of when these payments will be paid? and if they will be paid in a lump sum?
Thanks
Hi,
The ruling is that if you are receiving carer’s payment or allowance as of the date the budget comes down then you will be entitled to the lump sum payments i.e. $600 and the $1000 child disability. The $600 will be paid at the end of June beginning of July according to Centrelink. The $1000 child disability payment usually gets paid in July – if you haven’t received it by the end of July follow up.
Hi im on a carers payment and carers allowance looking after my mum how much is the bonus last year i got 1600 also does it be paid all at once or seperate
HI Kelly,
I think you’ll get $1,200 this year made up of two lots of $600 (one for Carer Payment and one for Carer Allowance). At this stage, I’m not sure if these will be paid as a single lump sum, though they usually are.
if you are on both csrer allowance and payment for a person over 16 it gets paid in 2 lots, 600 one week then 600 the following week, and has already begun to be paid
Good for you Kelly, Far too many Mothers in nursing homes, I’ve helped my Mum who suffered a severe stroke 7 years ago stay at home too, A great feeling of real acomplishment in a greedy self obsessed world IMHO, Family is what it’s all about for me, I’d love to see a bit more of a modest,but afordable increase in the overall money/Benifits paid to carers for preventing the mass institutionalisation of our “Less Capable” citizen’s, “Our Loved ones” deserve family life , rather than the easier solution of “Shared accomodation” and all the pitfalls they dish up,
To be truthfull i would do everything possible to prevent Mum from losing her freeedom, Even with Zero Funding and No Carer payment at all, purely for love as the only reward, Thankfully we have politicians with at least some appreciation for our Good work,And there is at least some monetory assistance provided to keep the spirits up and a little hope alive, While we do our best to give just that to family we support..
Be nice if our Pollies could influence the bulk of the population to see this as a more “Normal” appoach to life and family,Even “Convince” the Value of this economic investment, & its need to be increased, Why should we pay Billions of Dollars on defending a country that cannot or will not care for its least capable citizens, Popular opinion should be challanged if it is proven to be only concerned with Greed,Power,Pofit Etc. Human Equity,Peace & genuine Goodwill should be front¢re in Leaders minds,when driving social policy, Not an endless cycle of “Winners & Loser’s” Mentality, Seems the disposable culture is the dominant force in society,(Win or lose, &go away) And a truely callous and heartless ideology it seems to me, A Fad culture, So easy to reject, I fear not poverty, i more fear slavery(Particularly self imposed), False idols/icons of all kinds, & Breaking those “Old,Antiquated” moral virtues AKA “the 7 Deadlies”
Hi,
I am very confused, I am receiving Carer Payment for my wife and was wondering if I will still receive the one off bonus payment of $1000 before the first of July? OR has all this changed since the budget stated a bonus payment of $600?
Hi Very Confused,
From what I have been able to put together in the few minutes here and there I can steal away, it appears that the $600 Carer Supplement will be replacing previous Budget bonuses. If you receive a Carer Allowance for your wife along with the Carer Payment, you will be entitled to two $600 payments ($1,200 in total).
There is one continuing $1,000 annual payment, however this is only available to parents or carers who are receiving Carer Allowance (Child) in regard to a minor under 16 years of age.
I’m not sure if all that is any less confusing! Why do they make these things so complicated?
Thanks for the reply,
I have discovered thats the thing with this Government, they have a lot of small print they do not tell you about, example being the tax payments, I paid tax, got next to nothing back, apparently I miss out, oh well, ya get that.
Hi. How does one qualify for both payments. As I understand what centrelink said to me 9 years ago when I started looking after my mum that you could only get one or the other. Carer allowance if you had a seperate income or the full carer pension payment., Not both. I am really confused now. Have I been misrepresented by centrelink staff or have I been missing out. Paul
Hi Paul,
I’m a little pushed for time this afternoon so I’m going to paste directly from an ALP media statement issued on the 12th:
“People who receive Carer Payment and Carer Allowance will receive at least two payments every year, in addition to increases to their pension….
More than 95 per cent of Carer Payment recipients also receive Carer Allowance. ”
I’ll try to get back to this after work with some details on each of the payments for you.
I’m sorry I haven’t gotten back to you yet, Paul. I have been swamped with work.
It is worth mentioning that Carer Allowance (Adult) is not subject to any income or asset test. It’s currently paid at a rate of $105.10 per fortnight.
Carer Payment, however – of around $569 each fortnight – is subject to both an income test and an asset test. To receive the full Carer Payment I think a person needs to be earning under around $138 fortnightly.
For a little more clarity (and current information) head over to the Centrelink Payments Directory. From here you can access specific details on each of the Centrelink payments and see whether or not you might qualify.
from what i understand correct me if i may be wrong here but you can qualify for both carers payment and allowance but as i said if i am wrong please correct me
just a question in re to the child disability assistance package my girlfriend receives carers allowance for our 6 year old how can you tell if you get the child package ???? any help would be appreciated thanks heaps
brian
you get a payment of 600 in june, it has already begun to be paid and i have been informed you should get a payment of 1000 on your 1st pay day in july
Hi Woody,
My underestanding is that you can qualify for both Carers Payment and Carers Allowance (as stated above More than 95 per cent of Carer Payment recipients also receive Carer Allowance. ”) BUT it is alot harder to get the Carers Payment as this involves more money.
I receive the Carers Allowance for my daughter but not the Carers Payment. Maybe the rules have changed since we applied but when we did, even though we were in and out of hospitals all the time. She was having up to 300 seizures a day, because the doctors couldn’t say 100% if it was going to be on ongoing thing she didn’t get it. They base it on the amount of time you have to spend on your child over and above a “mainstream child”.
I find the system can be very hard at times and I have learnt, as many carers have, you have to fight for everything. I have also found WHO you are talking to at the time depends on what you get. I have spoken to someone from one department one day and can’t apply for a thing. I try again and get someone else and it is a totally different ball game.
CHRISTIE, YOU ARE ARE DOING A FANTASIC JOB HERE.
So basically Woody, if you are getting either or both,the carers payments or the carers allowance, the Child disability assistance package will be paid automatically into the same account.
I’m sorry to hear about the problems your daughter has experienced. I’m sure it adds to the strain when you’re already in a concerned and emotional state and then having to deal with Centrelink.
thanks for your help and yeah i have to agree with you on the part of being able to get carers allowance being easier than carers payment as myself and girlfriend have a daughter that attends special school due to learning disabilities and we can only receive carers allowance which makes no sense to me because if these people put themselves in our shoes for a day they wouldn’t cope for 1 minute so yeah i can understand mate exactly what you are saying but thank you anyway for your help
I get Carer allowence for two of my children will that $600 payment be made per child or per family.
Hi Catherine,
The $600 payment is for each eligible person you receive Carer’s for so you should have 2 x $600 coming your way.
Hi there
So that means im on carers payment and carers allowance for 5 x ederly people
so that mean i will get $600 for each and $600 for carer payment
is that right
what I understand if you get carers payment you get the increase and the $600 before June 30th and if you get carers allowance too you will get the $600 before or on the 30th of june and if you get carers allowance for a child under 16 you get the $1000
At lease they got rid of the family bonus of $600 a kid for once they are giving the carers a fare go i under stand that if ur child is in care n u receive carers allowance u only get $600 and no more
they $600 thing for each kid has gone out the door thank god they are not paying them i have people up the road from me with ten kids they waste the money on stuff they dont realy need at lease the carers will know what to do with it
yes that right u have to be on carers payment or carers allowance to receive any thing
they have stoped they family thing as in $600 per kid and replaced it with CARERS Supplement only for those on carers payment and carers allowance adult or child
Thanking you justin
With so many payments being tossed around lately, I can barely keep up myself. I do think that there might be some confusion regarding the $600 per child.
Some families will continue to receive the Family Tax Benefit Supplement once they have lodged their tax returns for the financial year. This is not a ‘bonus’ per se but is of a similiar amount. The supplement is used as a method of reconciliation. If you’ve been overpaid, the overpayment comes first off your supplement. If you have been paid correctly, you receive the supplement. If you were underpaid, you get the supplement along with any top-up.
It’s also probably another way to ensure taxpayers lodge their taxes (no supplement is paid until both you and your partner have submit a tax return).
According to the Centrelink site, the maximum rates for the 2008-09 income year will be up to $686.20 per child (FTB-A) and $335.80 per family (FTB-B).
This supplement is available to all familiies who receive Family Tax Benefit, regardless of whether or not the children are in need of additional support (such as carer’s).
Parents who receive Family Tax Benefit for their child aswell as the Carer Payment/Allowance will receive the carer supplement/s on top of any FTB supplement they may be entitled to.
It’s worth noting that a lot of families miss out on the FTB supplement each year simply because they fail to lodge their tax returns on time or notify Centrelink if they are not required to lodge one. Unlike the ATO, Centrelink do not entertain entitlements going back more than 2 years.
Now, the $600 ‘bonus’ which was recently paid for all school-age children as part of the Household Stimulus Package was a one-off payment.
Again, I’m no expert on Centrelink entitlements, but this is my understanding of the current situation. Anyone should please feel free to correct me if they know differently.
justin get it right man you think just becaus we receive $600 per child every year we get it good. Wrong i have to stay home as i am a career now one one income and they say my husband earns to much on about 35,000 to receive careers pension.well u try and raise 6 kids and over estimate your income which in return you miss out on some of your ftb so you think your in a bad boat you got nothing to winge about at least you know what money you’ll be receiving each fourtnight.
actually justin they have not taken the 600 per child out if you goto the family assistance web site its still there and they didnt say in the budget it was out so you better check your facts and so what if that lady has 10 kids thats not your problem i have 5 and we dont waste ours we spend it on our family thats what its there for
Warning there is a web site that is sending things from here they must click our reply botton they are from the usa trying to steal ur imfomation
Ok dan well here u go this is the full note Winners And Loosers I dont see in this budget about any supplement bonus for familys ($600 Perkid) This IS the Budget For centrelink
WINNERS
Pensioners:
Pensioners will receive a boost in payments.
Single pensioners on the full pension rate will receive an extra $1689 a year, while pensioner couples (combined) will get an extra $527 a year.
This means that, from September 20 this year, single pensioners will receive an extra $32.49 a week. This is made up of an extra $30 a week in the base pension and an extra $2.49 a week in a new fortnightly pension supplement.
Pensioner couples will receive an extra $10.14 a week in the new fortnightly pension supplement.
The Government will also simplify the payments system. From July 1, 2010, pensioners will be able to access about half of the pension supplement on a quarterly basis and have better access to advance pension payments.
A new price index will be developed for households that rely on the pension to keep pace with the cost of goods that pensioners purchase. This will be used to index pension rates where it is higher than the Consumer Price Index.
Carers:
The Government says it recognises the “vital role” that carers play in the community.
Those who receive a carer payment will receive the pension increases of $32.49 a week for singles on the full pension rate.
As well, a permanent carer supplement of $600 a year will be introduced for carer payment recipients and an extra $600 a year for carer allowance recipients for each person in their care.
The supplement will replace the Government’s one-off bonuses.
The first payment to carers will be made at the end of June.
First home owners:
To support the housing market and first home buyers, the Government will provide $539 million over three years to extend the First Home Owners Boost scheme.
But the current scheme will be wound back from October.
For first home buyers entering into contracts between July 1, 2009, and September 30, 2009, $7000 will continue to be provided for the purchase of existing homes and $14,000 for the purchase of new homes.
Combined with the existing $7000 under the first home owners grant, first home owners will receive a total of $14,000 for existing homes and $21,000 for new homes.
But for first home buyers entering into contracts between October 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, the First Home Owners Boost scheme will provide only $3500 for the purchase of existing homes and $7000 for new homes. These home buyers will continue to receive the existing $7000 first home owners grant.
Parents:
Paid parental leave will be introduced from January 1, 2011, at the federal minimum wage, currently $543.78 a week, for up to 18 weeks.
The scheme will cost an estimated $730.7 million over five years.
But parents who receive this payment will not be eligible for the Baby Bonus, except in cases of multiple births where parents will not receive the Baby Bonus for only the first child.
Parental leave payments will be taxable and will have an impact on the parents’ entitlement to family assistance payments, but will not be deemed income for income support payments.
Parents who choose not to receive the paid parental leave or who do not qualify will still receive the Baby Bonus and other family payments.
Primary carers will be eligible for paid parental leave if they earn less than $150,000 in the full financial year prior to the birth or adoption of a child, have worked at least 330 hours over the 10 months preceding the birth or adoption of a child and have worked continuously with one or more employers for at least 10 of the 13 months before the expected date of birth or adoption.
In some cases, the paid parental leave will be able to be transferred to another caregiver if the primary carer returns to work early.
LOSERS
Private health insurance members:
The current 30 per cent rebate will be reduced for private health insurance holders but will be dropped altogether for singles on high incomes.
From July 1, 2010, three new private health insurance tiers will be introduced.
The regime will remain unchanged for singles with income of less than $75,000 a year and families with incomes of less than $150,000 a year.
Tier one: For singles with income of more than $75,000 (and families earning more than $150,000) the rebate will be 20 per cent, increasing to 25 per cent at 65 years of age and to 30 per cent at 70 years. The surcharge for not having insurance will remain at 1 per cent.
Tier two: For singles with income of more than $90,000 (and families earning more than $180,000), the rebate will be 10 per cent, increasing to 15 per cent at 65 years of age and to 20 per cent at 70 years. The surcharge for not having insurance will be increased to 1.25 per cent.
Tier three: For singles with income of more than $120,000 (and families on more than $240,000), no rebate will be provided. The surcharge for not having insurance will be increased to 1.5 per cent.
Aged pensioners:
The Rudd Government argues that “tough decisions” need to be made to take into account demographic changes impacting on the sustainability of the pension system.
Under the changes, the age pension qualifying age will be progressively increased to 67 years beginning in 2017.
The Government says that the increasing longevity of Australians means that “people are receiving the age pension for far longer periods than in the past”.
have to say i agree with you there dan i have 3 kids and to be honest i use the extra bonuses we get for them on them but on the same note it is no ones business but there own if they receive it or not but i must say i am annoyed at the way they treat carers like my partner who cares for our 6 year old daughter who has learning disabilities they do so much and get so little for it
i agree Woody. My daughter is 11 and was born at 28 weeks and has severe learning problems due to her brain not developing properly, ok, we get a lil over 100 a fort night but that doesn’t nearly cover the tuition that she needs. I also have 4 other kids and if I could work to give her all she needs, but who would be here for her then? She also has separation anxiety and mild agoraphobia so i can’t leave her with any else any way. I appreciate that we get help at all, but really it isn’t enough
ok so i have a 9 month old and a 7 year ild. my 7 year old has asbergers so i am on disability allowance for him….
what im gathering is
i get the 600 bonus before end of june than 1000 in july and 686.20×2 and 335.80 this year is that correct???
and i get an increase in september of just over 30 a week????
hi i was just wondering if the 600 per child ftb supplement is still being paid this year.and before anyone starts saying that im a single mum who wants to live on government money,im only receiving centrelink payment until i get back on my feet as my kids father passed away a short time ago and im staying home with them as they need me so dont bother putting me down about receiving help from centrelink
Hi Irene,
The FTB Supplement will be paid this year as usual as it is not treated as a bonus payment but more like an annual reconcilliation (ie, if there has been an overpayment, they take it out of the supplement).
You wouldn’t usually receive this payment until your household has lodged tax returns so if you won’t need to do a tax return this financial year, you can notifiy Centrelink from 1 Juy of your non-lodging status and that should speed things up considerably for you.
The maximum ftb supplement rates for the 2008-09 income year will be up to $686.20 per child (FTB-A) and $335.80 per family (FTB-B).
Hope that helps.
so sorry to hear about your husband and your children’s father.
does anyone know who actually pays the payment for the supplement for carers allowance would I be able to see it through centrelink when its due and is utility allowance being paid for the 20th june installment. Does anyone have any idea when will it paid and do we get a letter to say when for the carers allowance supplement
Hi Joanne,
Carer Allowance is administered by Centrelink and so you should be able to see it using Centrelink Online Services. All I can tell you is that the Carer Supplement starts being paid this month. After this has been paid, you will get a letter from Centrelink to let you know it has been deposit into your account.
The increased pension rate and the small fortnightly pension supplement (which merges the various allowances) comes into effect 20 September.
Any idea as to when the payment(s) will be made.
They say “The first payment will be made on or before 30 June 2009″.
Any news on a specific date?
Thanks
it would come in handy but they seem to forget the carers with what they do in the community .If they never look after them they would surely be in a home .I am a carer of my husband and it can be hard financially sometimes i.I do some part time work but they are so rigid about how many hours you do .If you go over a fraction you can get your pension suspended .They penalize the pensioners the disabilities .Its alright for the government on a big figure income but not for the poor battler …. maria northey
tell me about it I’m sick of centrelink though but apart from my daughter being to so many doctors due to emotional stress from being bullied which made her have learning problems as she lacks concentration. I myself have not returned to work as I am very sick myself
Hi All
I ve Got Sum goood News For Carers
Payments start Between 18th June to the 30th June 2009
If u dont get your Carers Supplement By the 1 of July 2009 please contact centrelink
Thanks for that, matt.
Thanks Matt. Very appreciated.
Hi
Also For got to say Centrelink had test date
The test date Was 12th of may 2009 this mean if u put a claim in after the 12th of may 2009 You Will Not Get the supplement
You had To Be On the carers Before the 12 th of may 2009 to get the supplement So any new claims after the 12th of may 2009 will not get the supplement ……..
This is interesting to know. Clearly I need to find some time to look into the latest Centrelink bits and pieces.
Matt, is this information available on their site or did a Centrelink worker tell you? It seems inconsistent with the usual Social Security legislation…. but, then again, we are talking about Government policy. Confusing and inconsistent is probably the norm.
I called centrelink carers hotline this morning to clear up my confusion as to what I will be entitled to and when.
I receive both carers allowance and carers payment for my disabled son (child).
$600 bonus for carer allowance paid between 16-27 june 09
$600 bonus for carer payment paid between 16-27 June 09
$1000 bonus for carers receiving carer allowance for a child only paid 1 july
The nice lady also told me that these payments will be paid seperately from your regular payments, I also told her that I can see my regular payments online to 25 June and that the bonus payments are not showing up to this date, she explained that they may only show up a couple of days before being deposited into your bank acct.
I hope this helps all those carers out there waiting for the extra $$ intended to help us out!!
Hopefully it will answer all the questions on here about payment dates.
If I recall, the recent Back-to-School bonuses and the like didn’t show up on Online Services until a few days before payment either.
Have a virtual Freddo. Email me your details for some real ones posted out for the kiddies (and yourself) to enjoy.
Thanks Tracey. I am a full time carer for my wife and the bills just keep building up. The additional $ will really help to relieve the pressure.
Cheers
it seems that centrelink are giving diff dates but any ways we know its coming this month
and tracey has done a great job ringing as well ….. to follow information up
this is a great site Christie …
Keep Up The Good Work
Hi matt,
I second that. I just found this site and it is good to see that I am not alone out here.
Thanks to everyone for sharing there experiences and information.
hi obviously justin you have still got ur facts wrong ,we wjll still get the ‘so called kids bonus in fact it goes up this year to 686dollars per child plus another 335 dollars per family.so im a mum of two aged 10 and13 and i also care for my father ,husband on disability caring for his mother.i will get 600 carers allowance 600 carers payment before the 30 june and then 686 per child plus 335 per family paid in early july .husband will get 600 dollars for carers allowance for caring for his mother paid before30 june
hi my claim was put in before the 12th of may and was back dated on the 8th of may my first normal pay was the 12th may 2009 will I still be entitled I put in my application to claim earlier so should I get the carers supplement as i offical started on the date I was backdated don’t I and is the payment paid alphbetically. So a simple question does it go on the date you claim or the date you receive your first carers allowance payment
Hi it goes from the date of your application and as your application was back dated to the 8th May you should get it. No it is not paid alphabetically it is done in series of batches – how they work out the batches is anyone’s guess.
Yes Joanne
The test date was the 12 th of may u will get the carers supplement
this yr and every yr after that and any one approved after the 12th of may will not get the supplement Till next yr on the 1st of july 2010
I will go find the link so we all know whats going on…..
Thanking You Matt
In 2009, carer supplement will be paid to people who received a qualifying payment for the period including 12 May 2009.
From 1 July 2010, carer supplement will be paid to people who receive a qualifying payment for a period which includes the test day (1 July) each year.
The amount of carer supplement payable in relation to a single qualifying instalment will be $600. A person can be qualified for more than one amount of $600 as part of their carer supplement.
For example, a person may be qualified for and receive an instalment of both carer allowance and wife pension during a period which includes the test day. The person will receive carer supplement both in respect of carer allowance, and in respect of wife pension and carer allowance, giving a total of $1,200. A person may receive an amount of $600 in respect of each care receiver for whom the carer receives carer allowance. For example, if a person receives carer allowance in respect of three children as well as carer payment, then the person will receive a total of $2,400 in carer supplement. However, a person will only receive one payment of $600 in relation to their receipt of carer payment
Heres the Link
http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:ipoCLdA0mQkJ:parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/ems/r4119_ems_53f922a6-0694-421f-adb2-0aeaf580f0a2/upload_word/329305.doc%3BfileType%3Dapplication%252Fmsword+carers+test+date+2009+12+may&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au
Hi! Am new to Carers Allowance, my date of contact with centrelink was the 12th May 2009, does this mean I just miss out on the $600 bonus?
I was paid the full 12 weeks arrears as well
so did you get your arrears payment the back pay on the 8th i did so I have been told I will get it it goes from when you lodge you form because of backdating I think
My date of contact that centrelink took down was 12 may, form wasnt lodged til a week after this, but the 12th was the day they paid me from, but because my sons condition existed for prior to the diagnosis, centrelink back paid me 12 week + the two fortnight while everything was pending…am so confused with all of this lol
will it go in with your normal centrelink payday as mine is the 23rd of june 2009 not showing up yet on centrelink online
HI joanne
I Would Say No supplement Payments Will Show on Online Services
Till After The 16 th Of June 2009
Stumbled across this forum by mistake, and have found more information from reading this than from the entire time I have been battling with various Centrelink operators.
I had my Carers Allowance revoked in February as I could not get my child into a specialist in the alloted time they gave to complete the review forms. Living in a rural area, I’m sure you can appreciate that paediatrician appointments need to be made months in advance, not weeks. I was advised at the time that as long as I kept them up to date with the date for the consult everything would be fine. WRONG! This is all despite the fact that my daughter has Aspergers, which is one of the conditions that means automatic qualification for a payment and supposedly no ongoing reviews.
Since then it has been an uphill battle trying to get the allowance back. It may seem a trivial amount to quibble about, but due to her aggressive nature, I spend more than the $105 a fortnight fixing damage she has done to our rented home. I finally got her into see a doctor, also enclosed photocopies of reports from her previous paediatrician stating very clearly that she has aspergers, ADHD and non verbal learning diability, sent them off early May, and they ‘lost’ them. Fifth thing this particular branch has ‘lost’. I’ve resent everything off (registered mail this time – slaps self for not doing this originally with their previous history of errors), but obviously due to an admin glitch at their end I will receive any of the bonus payments mentioned. Is there any way to fight this seeing as the mistake/s have been at their end? Have already been to the Ombudsman the first time they made the error, but received very little help. Human error – opps – was the final conclusion. Never heard about any of the other payments mentioned, and quite furious about it to be honest, as my daughter has been on the diagnosis treadmill since the age of 18 months, and had a clear and definite diagnosis by 5, yet Centrelink never made any mention of any special financial help. Despite being a sole parent, and with a younger child with a tentative diagnosis of ADD hanging over his head.
With my eldest child recently having been placed with DOCS due to violence against myself (which has resulted in me having to have cortisone injections into my back) and her younger siblings, and now back home (the foster carer refused to have her any longer), I have been told by our psychologist I need to move asap from my rural home to a city envirnoment where there are support services and help, so these bonuses would make a great deal of difference to inching closer to that. So the fact that I will miss out on them by a few short weeks, due to them having lost the paperwork originally, is hard to take.
And yes, I think I have just used this board to vent, and I apologise. But if anyone has any ideas as to what payments Centrelink do provide in emergency crisis situations like ours, or how to access the bonus payments which we will miss out on due to an admin glitch at their end, I’d be most grateful.
Jen.
Jen
You Poor Thing oh my god i thought i had it bad. My daughter was diagnosed (finally) with mild autism and my younger two are going through the tredmill of appmnts etc due to showing ADHD tendencies. I am not sure about the bonus payment but i have heard of a Carers Adjustment Payment which is a one off payment of up to $10000. You have to be receiving the CA (child) and the child is to be aged 6 or under. Im not sure if you will qualify for this but it worth a try. You can download the application form from the Centrelink website. Hope this information is useful to and Good luck.
cheryl
mmmm seems you stubled in too the worng window jen
Good News
My supplement Is showing online Now there Paying mine on the 25th of june
So if thats Helps
Cheerz
i get carer allowance for my 9 year old son who has autism and was diagnosed at age 6. i wish i had known about that carer adjustment payment before he turned 7. that would have been really useful for him. ive tried looking for info on the bonus payments on the centrelink website but i cant find anything. i hope we still get them. and as far as medicare covering speech and OT i tried that but there was only one place near me that offered it and they charged me $90 and i only got about $20 back. bit of a bugger that was.
and i just checked online and i get my next payment on the 22nd of june but it doesnt show any kind of supplement there. just my usual $105 a fortnight.
Check with your Pead because if they write an referral and charge your visit on some certain code you should be eligible for the 20 visits ( im not sure if they are per year or all up) Also try the Autism website they might have some useful information for you.
Check online payment History i found that it shows the supplement payment date there not on the front screen once u sign in …to centrelink .website
if this helps
Hi All
It seems centrelink is paying the Supplement
6 days after your normal payday . i have just been informed
from monday this week they start and go though till the 2nd July 2009
here are the dates
Normal payday Supplement Payed
15th June ——————————21st June 2009
16th June ——————————22nd June 2009
17th June ——————————23rd June 2009
18th June ——————————24th June 2009
19th June ——————————25th June 2009
22nd June —————————–26th June 2009
23rd June ——————————27th June 2009
24th June ——————————28th June 2009
25th June —————————– 29th June 2009
26th June —————————– 30th June 2009
29th June —————————– 1st July 2009
30th June —————————– 2nd July 2009
Hi, Just checked centrelink and I normally get paid on 18th June and my payment will not be until 26th. So your dates are not quite correct. Oh well at least I know now when its comming. Thanks for the info guys and a great site.
Well answered my question supplement has shown up to be paid 25th June
FYI…
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/14/2597669.htm?section=justin
Pension increases to proceed: Macklin
Posted 3 hours 10 minutes ago
Families and Community Services minister Jenny Macklin says the Federal Government is set to proceed with promised pension increases and carer payments.
Ms Macklin said the government would start paying a $600 carer supplement from June 17.
She said she would introduce legislation to parliament on Monday to allow the $32 increase in the single pension and an extra $10 a week for pensioner couples from September 20.
“They need this money, but it will also be good for the economy,” she told Network Ten.
Ms Macklin said the families of pensioners who qualified for the December bonus, but had since died, would not have to return the payment.
“It’s really only the Liberal Party that is so hard-hearted as to say that a widow grieving for their pensioner husband wouldn’t receive this money,” she said.
Just checked my Centrelink online account and found the following:
Payments
* Your next payment will be $600.00 + $600.00 paid on Wednesday 17 June 2009.
http://www.treasurer.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2009/052.htm&pageID=&min=wms&Year=&DocType=0
Press release from treasurer regarding all carer payments
sorry but im lost
what are u lost on Steve …
hi my mother and father on age penisoners do they still get the utility allowance that was suppose to come after the 20th june 2009. And another question though my grandma is on war widows pensioner does she get any bonuses this year
my normal payday is today & then next payday is 29th but mine is being paid on the 22nd so 7 days after my payday so those dates are wrong.
as for the $1000 child payment as far as i can gather it should be paid around the time it was paid last yr.for me it was 13th july with the $600 payment being paid on the 23rd june.so same time as last yr.
sorry that last date was meant to say 17th july not 13th but you get the idea.
Is there a separate July $1000 payment for ch’n with autism that is different to the Child Disability Assistance Payment? I had a feeling it was given with the Autism Fachsia funding a few yrs ago and it would be 5 years of $1000 payments in July??
I asked about whether utility allowance is getting payed on the 20th june or after
Utility Allowance
Question Asked : Joanne
As Far As I Have Seen Is Utility Allowance Is not Getting Payed To Sept 20th 2009 and the 20th of dec 2009 I will find more info in the next few hrs
Would love to know Matt what if the Utility Allowance is getting paid!
Thanks
Yes found out from centrelink that Utilitys is been paid this month after the 20th June then sep 20th and dec 20th 2009
Hi All
Please check out the link as it helped me get a light on things relating to the 2009/10 budget for carers payments and allowances.
http://www.treasurer.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2009/052.htm&pageID=&min=wms&Year=&DocType=0
Cheers
i did my own math i got my normal CA pay on the 17th so if it is 6 days matt it would be 6 workin days so i would get mine on the 25th, i will confirm this tommorrow
hi i care for my 41 year old mother who has a disability and was wondering do i get 1x$600 and 1x$1000 or just the 1x$600 thanks
Child Disability Assistance Payment of $1,000 does anyone know if this gets paid with your payments in july
does anyone no when the ftb supplement start getting paid someone said the 1st payments start being paid on 2nd july,does anyone no if this is correct
Hi Irene,
FTB supplements usually get paid after you (and your partner for people who have one) have lodged tax returns. If you do not need to lodge, you need to inform the Family Asistance Office. Usually payment times vary for each individual depending on their circumstances, when they get their taxes in, or how early they informed the powers that be that they don’t need to lodge.
You are able to notify your non-lodging status via online services (once signed in, it’s under Family Assistance > Advise Non-Lodgement of Tax Return).
hi I asked about the Child Disability Assistance Payment of $1,000 just want to know if it comes in at the same time as your payments in july or does it work out differently
Hi Joanne,
Not sure but when Centrelink have online services available again (it’s off at the moment) I will check how it was paid last year.
HI again, Joanne. Last year I received this payment on 4 July which was the day after I received the usual $100.60 Carer Allowance.
hi, just rang centrelink to ask when child disability assistance payment will be paid….after being transferred to three different departments was told they had never heard of the payment and had no idea what I was talking about. Confused!! Does anyone know if this payment does exist and if and when we are supposed to be paid?
Hi Kylie,
Yes, the payment exists. Actually the Treasurer makes mention of it n the press release that Carol linked to a few posts above: “The existing Child Disability Assistance Payment of $1,000 a year for carers who are paid Carer Allowance (child) will continue.”
Our youngest child is autistic and I received this payment last year in early July. Online services is unavailable at the time I am writing this but I’ll check what date it came through when it’s up again.
I have had $1000 show up in my future payments, am receiving carer allowance for my 5 year old autistic son, it is listed as carer allowance, but closer look into it, it is labelled “A one time payment of Pension Bonus Scheme” so now I am very confused
Hi Erin,
That is the same label they gave payments of the Child Disability Assistance Payment last year.
Oh thank you! Now not as concerned
Hi Erin, Did it say what date your $1000 is going in?
3rd July, with my carers allowance
Thanks Erin.
my sis-in-law got a letter from centrelink stateing she’ll get $1000 on july 15th for carers allowence, i still havnt got my letter yet but she said it wiill come on her carers allowence date,
hope this helps
I AM STILL CONFUSE I CARE FOR MY HUSBAND AND ONE TELL ME I GET 1,000 THEN I HEAR I DON’T IT WOULD HELP I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THOUGH
Hi Maria,
Which payment/s do you receive in regard to caring for your husband? Have you received your $600 carer supplement?
I really appreciate your blog post, I always check this once in a while if there is a new one.. thank you very much..
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