This payment is available to carers of:

• someone with a disability (including a serious mental health condition)
• someone with a severe illness 
• someone who is frail aged
• 2 to 4 children younger than 16 whose needs add up to the same as 1 child with severe needs
• 1 or 2 children younger than 16 and 1 adult whose needs total the same as 1 child with severe needs.

For a carer to qualify for the Carer Payment, they must:

• Meet an income and assets test
• Care for a person, or people, who have been assessed as meeting a minimum disability score assessed through the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT) or a Carer Needs Assessment (for a child under the age of 16) – a health professional currently treating the person must complete these forms.
• Not be employed, in education or volunteering for more than 25 hours a week

Everyone on the Carer Payment will automatically receive the Carer Allowance.  However, the Carer Allowance is also available to carers who:

• Provide daily care
• Care for someone who reaches an eligible score on the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT) or a Carer Needs Assessment – see above
• Has a household income of under $250,000 per year.

There are no employment, education or volunteering restrictions on the Carer Allowance.

You may get a Carer Allowance for each person you care for providing they meet the disability requirements and you meet the daily care requirements.