Carer Allowance Rates 2026

Carer Allowance is one of Australia's most important supplementary payments for unpaid carers. Around 700,000 Australians receive Carer Allowance — far more than the 300,000 who receive Carer Payment — because it has no income or assets test and can be paid on top of wages and other Centrelink payments.

Key difference from Carer Payment Carer Payment replaces your income if you cannot work due to caring responsibilities. Carer Allowance supplements your income, recognising the extra costs of caring. You can receive Carer Allowance even if you are working full-time.

Who can receive Carer Allowance? You can receive Carer Allowance if you provide additional daily care and attention to: • An adult with a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability assessed under the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT) • A child under 16 with a disability assessed under the Disability Care Load Assessment (Child) — DCLA • An adult who is frail aged

Can I receive Carer Allowance for multiple people? Yes. You can receive a separate Carer Allowance ($153.50/fn) for each person you care for, provided each person meets the eligibility criteria.

Carer Allowance and work Unlike Carer Payment, there is no work-hour limit for Carer Allowance. You can work full-time and still receive it, as long as you continue to provide additional daily care and attention to the care receiver.

Annual Carer Supplement Carer Allowance recipients receive an annual Carer Supplement of $600 in July each year. This is separate from the fortnightly Carer Allowance.

Child Disability Assistance Payment Carers of children who receive Carer Allowance may also receive the Child Disability Assistance Payment — $1,000 per year per child, paid in July. This is to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability.