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Centrelink
The following are some of the payments that you may be able to claim. Further details are available from Centrelink and/or their website.
Carer Allowance
Carer Allowance (adult) is a supplementary payment for carers who provide daily care and attention at home for adults with a disability, severe medical condition or who is frail aged. Carer Allowance may be paid in addition to an income support payment.
Eligibility: Looking after an adult with a severe disability or medical condition who needs a lot of additional care and attention at home; providing care for a person aged 16 or over where the disability causes a substantial functional impairment in either your home or the home of the person you care for; carer and the person being cared for are Australian residents. Please note: A health professional's report to establish eligibility is required, you may get Carer's Allowance for up to two adults if both adults individually qualify, and two carers may share one payment of Carer's Allowance, in certain circumstances, if together they are providing care.
Payments: Not subject to an assets or income test. You may be able to register intent to claim for Carer Allowance and / or Carer Payment. This will ensure you are paid from the earliest possible date. Once you have registered your intent to claim, a Centrelink Customer Service Officer will contact you within 2 days to assist you with your claim and send you a claim form. Applications for this payment: You can register an intent to claim by visiting any Centrelink Customer Service Centre, or by telephoning Centrelink on the Disability, Sickness and Carers enquiries phone number: 13 2717. A claim form is available for download from the Centrelink website, or by telephoning Centrelink on 13 2717 / visiting the nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
Note: You can make a claim for Carer Allowance and Carer Payment (adult) on the one claim form.
Carer Payment
Carer Payment (adult) is an income support payment for people who are unable to support themselves through participation in the workforce while caring for someone with a disability, severe medical condition or who is frail aged.
Eligibility: If you provide constant care for a person who has a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability, or a child with a profound disability, or two or more children with disabilities, or an adult and that adult's dependent child, who needs care permanently or for an extended period.
Residential requirements: The carer is not required to live with the person being cared for, but must be providing constant care. Carer and care receiver must be Australian residents.
Payments: Subject to an assets and income test.
Applications for this payment: You can register an intent to claim by visiting any Centrelink Customer Service Centre, or by telephoning Centrelink on the Disability, Sickness and Carers enquiries phone number: 13 2717. A claim form is available for download from the Centrelink website, or by telephoning Centrelink on 13 2717 / visiting the nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
Note: You can make a claim for Carer Allowance and Carer Payment (adult) on the one claim form.
Mobility Allowance
Provides assistance to people with disabilities who are in paid employment, voluntary work, vocational training, undertaking independent living/life skills training or a combination of paid work and training and who are unable to use public transport without substantial assistance.
Eligibility:
- aged 16 years and over, and have a disability that prevents you from using public transport without substantial assistance for the next 12 months or longer, and are undertaking vocational training, voluntary or paid work, independent living/life skills training, or a combination of these for at least 32 hours every four weeks on a continuing basis.
- Or, have an agreement to look for work through the Job Network or the Disability Employment Network.
- Or, are getting Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance or Austudy and are required to satisfy the activity test, and need to travel to and from your home as part of your work, training or job seeking, and are an Australian resident, in Australia and not subject to the two year newly arrived residents waiting period.
No income or assets test.
Applications for this payment: Visit any Centrelink Customer Service Centre, or the Centrelink Disability, Sickness and Carers enquiries phone number 13 2717.
Pensioner Education Supplement
The Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) helps you undertake full-time or part-time study.
Eligibility: If you are receiving a payment from Centrelink such as the Parenting Payment (single), Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment (adult or child). Please note that Masters or Doctorate level studies are not approved courses for the PES. Must be an Australian resident.
Payment: Not subject to an income or assets test.
Applications for this payment: This requires details of your course and study load as well as proof of enrolment (this does not apply for secondary school students). You can register your intent to claim for the PES. Phone Centrelink on the Youth and Students Services phone number 13 2490, or get someone else to telephone Centrelink for you, so you can register your intent to claim as soon as possible. Alternatively, you may visit a Centrelink Customer Service Centre to register your intent to claim. A claim form may also be sent out to you in the post (call Centrelink on 13 2490 to arrange this), or downloaded from the Centrelink website.
Rent Assistance
Rent Assistance gives you extra help if you rent privately.
Eligibility: If you receive a pension; receive more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit if you have dependent children; receive an allowance or benefit if you don't have dependent children, and you are over 25, or are partnered, or are under 25 (under 21 if you receive Disability Support Pension) and living permanently or indefinitely apart from parents or guardians, and meet resident requirements; you cannot get Rent Assistance if you get Austudy Payment.
Payment: Subject to an income and assets test.
Applications for this payment: Your eligibility for this payment is assessed when you claim a pension, allowance or benefit. You need to prove that you must pay rent. If you do not have a formal lease or tenancy agreement, you must provide a completed Rent Certificate to receive Rent Assistance. Ask at Centrelink for information about how to get a Rent Certificate. A Rent Certificate verifies the amount of rent you pay. Phone Centrelink on the Disability, Sickness and Carers enquiries phone number 13 2717 to discuss eligibility.