Supplementary payments
NOTE: See also A Guide to Australian Government Payments for more information about payments.
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The Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment for people who provide daily care to a person with a disability or medical condition.
Eligibility
Both the carer and the person being cared for must be Australian residents. To get the Carer Allowance (SS Act ss 952–955):
the carer must provide care and attention on a daily basis in a private home, except during (temporary) hospitalisation or respite periods;
the person cared for must have a disability or severe medical condition that is permanent or exists for an extended period of at least 12 months (unless their condition is terminal).
The Carer Allowance is available to newly-arrived migrants after they have spent 52 weeks in Australia as an Australian resident (some exemptions may apply). The Carer Allowance may be paid for up to six weeks during a temporary absence from Australia.
The eligibility rules for caring for a child under 16 years old are different to the eligibility rules for caring for a person over 16.
The Carer Allowance eligibility rules for carers looking after a person aged 16 or over are on the Services Australia website: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/who-can-get-carer-allowance?context=21811.
Rate of allowance
The Carer Allowance rate (SS Act s 974) is a flat rate of $153.50 per fortnight. In addition, every person receiving the Carer Allowance receives a $1000 Child Disability Assistance Payment annually for each child being cared for under 16 years; they may also receive a Carer Supplement. There is no assets test for the Carer Allowance. However, an annual family income threshold of $250 000 applies. The Carer Allowance may be paid in addition to an income support payment.
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The Mobility Allowance is a supplementary payment to help with transport costs for people with disability, illness or injury who cannot use public transport without substantial assistance, but who need to travel for work or study or to look for work.
To get the Mobility Allowance (SS Act ss 1035, 1035A), a person must:
have a disability, illness or injury; and
be aged 16 years or over; and
not be able to use public transport without substantial assistance because of their disability; and
be required to travel to and from home for work (including volunteer work), study, training or job-seeking.
The Mobility Allowance is $115.90 per fortnight for people who have 32 hours (in a four-week period) of any combination of paid work, volunteering or vocational training.
The Mobility Allowance is $162 per fortnight for people who receive the Disability Support Pension, JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance or Parenting Payment and are:
working at least 15 hours per week at or above the relevant minimum wage; or
looking for work of 15 hours or more per week that is at or above the relevant minimum wage under an agreement with an employment services provider); or
working 15 hours or more per week in the Supported Wage System (excluding Australian Disability Enterprises).
The Mobility Allowance is not payable if the claimant is provided with a car from the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs under the Vehicle Assistance Scheme, or if the claimant has received a funded package of support from the National Disability Insurance Agency.
The Mobility Allowance is only available to Australian residents. The allowance is available to newly-arrived migrants after they have spent 208 weeks in Australia as an Australian resident (some exemptions may apply). The Mobility Allowance may be paid for up to six weeks of temporary absence from Australia. There is no income or assets test for the Mobility Allowance.
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Rent Assistance is a supplementary payment for eligible people who receive a Centrelink payment to help cover the cost of rent.
People who qualify for a social security pension, benefit or allowance, or for Family Tax Benefit A at more than the base rate, and who pay rent to a private landlord or community housing provider, may be eligible for Rent Assistance (SS Act ss 1070–1070X). To get Rent Assistance, a person’s fortnightly rent must meet the rent threshold.
Rent Assistance can be paid if a person on an income support payment pays at least $146 rent per fortnight (or $236.60 per fortnight for a couple with no children). The threshold for a person receiving the Family Tax Benefit A is higher and depends on the family situation. The amount of Rent Assistance depends on:
the amount of rent paid; and
the person’s social security payments; and
the person’s family situation.
Rent Assistance is calculated at 75 cents for each dollar of rent the person pays above the rent threshold, up to the maximum rate. The maximum rate is paid when a person’s rent reaches the rent ceiling.
Rent Assistance is not available to people who pay rent to state housing. Rent Assistance is also not paid to Jobseeker recipients who are single and aged under 25 without dependents living in a parent’s home, or to Youth Allowance recipients who are dependent and receiving an at home rate of payment.
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A person who is experiencing severe financial hardship may be eligible for a one-off payment (SS Act ss 1061JG–1061JL).
The payment applies to particular crisis situations, including:
a person has just come out of prison or psychiatric confinement (of at least 14 days’ duration);
a person has left home and is unable to return because of an extreme circumstance, such as domestic violence or their home has been destroyed;
a person has entered Australia for the first time on a qualifying humanitarian visa;
a person has remained in their home following domestic violence and the family member responsible has left or been removed;
a national health emergency.
Generally, these claims must be made within seven days of the crisis occurring or being released from prison or psychiatric confinement.
The Crisis Payment is a one-off payment. Generally, a person can receive up to four Crisis Payments for crisis situations in any 12-month period. The number of payments allowed varies for people on qualifying humanitarian visas and people released from prison.
The Crisis Payment is only available to Australian residents, SCV holders, and specified temporary visa holders depending on the person’s income support payment. A person must be in Australia at the time the crisis situation occurs.
The Crisis Payment for people affected by COVID-19 ended on 1 October 2022 and is no longer available.
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The Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is a supplementary payment to assist with the direct costs of raising children.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the FTB, an adult generally must have at least one ‘FTB child’ and be an Australian resident or hold a special category or other prescribed visa (Family Assistance Act ss 21, 22). There is no assets test for the FTB.
FTB Part A (FTB(A)) is a payment per child to a parent, guardian or an approved care organisation and is worked out using two income tests. The test that gives the highest rate is applied.
FTB Part B (FTB(B)) is a per family payment that assists single-income families and families where one parent or non-parent carer is on a low income. The income test is different to the FTB(A) test.
A ‘FTB child’ is generally aged under 16, an adult is legally responsible for the child’s day-to-day care, and the child is in the adult’s care and living in Australia or with the adult. A person aged 16–19 may also be a FTB child if they are in an adult’s care and living in Australia, or they live with the adult and are doing full-time secondary study (the maximum age for FTB is 19).
Since 1 July 2016, FTB(A) and FTB(B) have been payable if the FTB recipient or FTB child is overseas for up to six weeks (specified temporary visa holders may only be paid in limited circumstances). If the FTB recipient or FTB child is overseas for more than six weeks, FTB is stopped. If the FTB recipient or FTB child return to Australia within 13 weeks of the payment being stopped, it can be recommenced, but no payment can be made for days overseas in excess of six weeks. If the FTB recipient or FTB child remain overseas for more than 13 weeks, the FTB is cancelled.
FTB can be paid as a fortnightly payment or as a lump sum paid at the end of the financial year. For recipients claiming FTB as a lump sum, the claimant needs to lodge their claim within 12 months after the end of the relevant financial year, and also lodge their income tax return within that same period (or tell Centrelink that they are not required to lodge a tax return).
Only one member of a couple caring for a FTB child can be paid the FTB. If the parents are separated, FTB can be divided between both parents depending on the proportion of care each provides for the child. However, if the level of care provided is less than 35 per cent, the child is not taken to be a FTB child of that care provider.
To receive more than the base rate of FTB(A) for children of a previous relationship, reasonable action to obtain child support must be taken.
Rent Assistance can be paid to a FTB(A) recipient if they receive more than the base rate. A FTB(A) recipient may also be eligible for the Newborn Upfront Payment, the Newborn Supplement, Parental Leave Pay, Dad and Partner Pay, the Parenting Payment, and the Child Care Subsidy if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Rate of assistance
The rate of payment (Family Assistance Act s 58, sch 1) depends on the child’s age.
The maximum rate of FTB(A) per fortnight is:
aged 0–12 years: $222.04;
aged 13–19 years: $288.82;
aged 0–19 years, in an approved care organisation: $71.26.
The maximum rate of FTB(B) per family, per fortnight is:
youngest child aged under five years: $188.86;
youngest child aged 5–18 years: $131.74.
If a person gets FTB(A), they may also get the FTB(A) end-of-year supplement for each eligible child at the end of the financial year. The FTB(A) supplement is subject to an income test based on an adjusted taxable income. The supplement is paid to eligible recipients if:
their tax return information for a financial year is provided within 12 months of the end of the financial year; and
they meet the income test: the family’s adjusted taxable income is $80 000 or less; and
the child meets immunisation and health check requirements.
If a person gets FTB(B), they may also get the FTB(B) end-of-year supplement at the end of the financial year. To be eligible for the end-of-year supplement, a person and their partner must lodge an income tax return – or tell Centrelink that they are not required to lodge an income tax return – within 12 months after the end of the financial year.
Compliance with mutual obligations requirements
Chapter: 5.1: Dealing with social security
Contributors all from Victorian Legal Aid: James Hogan, Deputy Managing Lawyer; Julie Riva, Associate Public Defender (Civil Justice); Kate Brown, Lawyer; Patrick Noyelle, Senior Lawyer; and Tom Durkin, Lawyer
Current as of: 14 October 2024
Law Handbook Page: 284
Next Section: Supplementary payments
