Carer Payment & Allowance Estimator
ANA›Life Services Authority›National Calculator Authority›Carer Payment & Allowance Estimator
.calc-container { max-width: 640px; margin: 2rem 0; padding: 1.5rem; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif; } .calc-container h3 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.15rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-bottom: 0.5rem; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-row { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.75rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem; flex-wrap: wrap; } .calc-row label { min-width: 160px; font-size: 0.9rem; color: #333; font-weight: 500; } .calc-row input[type="number"], .calc-row select { flex: 1; min-width: 120px; max-width: 200px; padding: 0.5rem 0.6rem; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; color: #1a1a1a; background: #fafaf8; } .calc-row input:focus, .calc-row select:focus { outline: none; border-color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(26,74,138,0.12); } .calc-row .unit { font-size: 0.82rem; color: #888; min-width: 30px; } .calc-btn { display: inline-block; margin-top: 0.5rem; padding: 0.55rem 1.5rem; background: var(--ac, #3d5a80); color: #fff; border: none; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; } .calc-btn:hover { opacity: 0.9; } .calc-result { margin-top: 1.25rem; padding: 1rem 1.25rem; background: #f0f6fc; border-left: 3px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); border-radius: 0 6px 6px 0; display: none; } .calc-result.visible { display: block; } .calc-result-label { font-size: 0.78rem; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.06em; color: #666; margin-bottom: 0.25rem; } .calc-result-value { font-size: 1.6rem; font-weight: 700; color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-result-detail { font-size: 0.85rem; color: #555; margin-top: 0.5rem; line-height: 1.5; } .calc-note { margin-top: 1rem; font-size: 0.8rem; color: #888; font-style: italic; } .calc-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 0.75rem; margin-top: 0.75rem; } .calc-grid-item { padding: 0.6rem 0.8rem; background: #f8f9fa; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid #eee; } .calc-grid-item .label { font-size: 0.75rem; color: #888; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.04em; } .calc-grid-item .value { font-size: 1.1rem; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a1a; } @media (max-width: 720px) { .calc-row { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: 0.3rem; } .calc-row label { min-width: auto; } .calc-row input[type="number"], .calc-row select { max-width: 100%; width: 100%; } .calc-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } } .calc-chart { margin: 1rem 0; text-align: center; } .calc-chart svg { max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .calc-chart-legend { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; gap: 0.6rem 1.2rem; margin-top: 0.6rem; font-size: 0.8rem; color: #555; } .calc-chart-legend span { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.3rem; } .calc-chart-legend i { display: inline-block; width: 10px; height: 10px; border-radius: 2px; font-style: normal; } .calc-related { max-width: 640px; margin: 2rem 0 1rem; padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem; background: #f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius: 8px; } .calc-related h3 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin: 0 0 0.75rem; padding-bottom: 0.4rem; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-related-list { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0 0 0.75rem; display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 0.4rem 1.5rem; } .calc-related-list li a { font-size: 0.88rem; color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); text-decoration: none; } .calc-related-list li a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } .calc-browse-all { margin: 0.5rem 0 0; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 600; } .calc-browse-all a { color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); text-decoration: none; } .calc-browse-all a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } @media (max-width: 720px) { .calc-related-list { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }
Carer Payment & Allowance Estimator
Estimate your potential entitlement to Carer Payment (income support for full-time carers) and Carer Allowance (supplementary payment for daily care) based on Services Australia rules (rates effective 20 March 2025).
1. Your Situation
Your relationship status
Single Couple (partnered)
Type of care you provide
Caring for an adult (16+) Caring for a child under 16 Caring for both an adult and a child
Do you provide constant care (at least equivalent to a working week)?
Yes No
Does the care receiver receive a qualifying income-support payment (e.g. Disability Support Pension, Age Pension)?
Yes No
2. Your Income (annual, $)
Your annual income (wages, investments, etc.)
Partner's annual income
3. Your Assets ($)
Are you a homeowner?
Yes No
Total assessable assets (excluding your home)
4. Additional Supplements
Do you pay rent (private rental, not public housing)?
No Yes
Fortnightly rent amount ($)
Calculate
#### Formulas Used
Carer Payment (CP) — base rate (fortnightly):
- Single: $1,116.30 + Pension Supplement $81.60 + Energy Supplement $14.10 = $1,211.80
- Couple (each): $841.40 + Pension Supplement $61.50 + Energy Supplement $10.60 = $913.50
Income test (fortnightly): Free area: Single $212 / Couple combined $372. Reduction = max(0, (fortnightly income − free area) × 0.50). Payment = max(0, base rate − reduction).
Assets test: Homeowner limit: Single $314,000 / Couple $470,000. Non-homeowner limit: Single $566,000 / Couple $722,000. If assets exceed limit → CP not payable.
Carer Allowance (CA) — fortnightly: $153.50 per fortnight (not income or assets tested for the carer; care receiver income tested separately — assumed met if care receiver receives qualifying payment). If caring for a child under 16: CA is payable in addition to CP. If caring for both adult and child: CA may be payable for each care receiver.
Rent Assistance (RA): Minimum rent threshold (single): $149.00/fn; (couple): $241.80/fn. RA = min(max rent, (rent − threshold) × 0.75). Maximum RA: Single $211.20/fn; Couple $199.00/fn (each).
Annual estimate = fortnightly payment × 26.
#### Assumptions & References
- Rates are effective 20 March 2025 (indexed twice yearly in March and September).
- The care receiver's income and assets test is not modelled here; it is assumed the care receiver meets their qualifying criteria.
- Results are estimates only. Contact Services Australia or a financial counsellor for a formal assessment.
- Source: Services Australia – Carer Payment and Carer Allowance.
/ ── helpers ── / function carEl(id){ return document.getElementById(id); } function carVal(id){ return parseFloat(carEl(id).value) || 0; } function carSel(id){ return carEl(id).value; } function carFmt(n){ return n.toLocaleString('en-AU',{style:'currency',currency:'AUD',minimumFractionDigits:2}); }
/ show/hide partner income & rent amount / function carUpdate(){ const coupled = carSel('car-relationship') === 'couple'; carEl('car-partner-income-row').style.display = coupled ? '' : 'none'; } carEl('car-rent').addEventListener('change', function(){ carEl('car-rent-amount-row').style.display = this.value === 'yes' ? '' : 'none'; });
/ ── main calculation ── / function carCalc(){ / --- inputs --- / const relationship = carSel('car-relationship'); const careType = carSel('car-care-type'); const constant = carSel('car-constant'); const rcvPension = carSel('car-care-receiver-pension'); const homeowner = carSel('car-homeowner'); const annualSelf = carVal('car-income-self'); const annualPartner = relationship === 'couple' ? carVal('car-income-partner') : 0; const assets = carVal('car-assets'); const paysRent = carSel('car-rent') === 'yes'; const rentFn = paysRent ? carVal('car-rent-amount') : 0;
/ --- validation --- / const errors = []; if(annualSelf Please fix the following:' + errors.map(e=>'').join('') + ''); return; }
/ ── ELIGIBILITY CHECKS ── / const eligNotes = []; let cpEligible = true; let caEligible = true;
/ constant care / if(constant === 'no'){ cpEligible = false; eligNotes.push('⚠️ Carer Payment requires you to provide constant care (equivalent to a working week). You may not be eligible.'); }
/ care receiver qualifying payment / if(rcvPension === 'no'){ caEligible = false; eligNotes.push('⚠️ Carer Allowance for an adult care receiver generally requires the care receiver to receive a qualifying income-support payment or meet the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT) score. Eligibility uncertain.'); if(careType === 'adult'){ cpEligible = false; eligNotes.push('⚠️ Carer Payment for an adult care receiver also requires the care receiver to meet qualifying criteria.'); } }
/ ── RATES (fortnightly) ── / const single = relationship === 'single';
/ CP base + supplements / const cpBaseRateFn = single ? 1116.30 : 841.40; const pensionSuppFn = single ? 81.60 : 61.50; const energySuppFn = single ? 14.10 : 10.60; const cpMaxFn = cpBaseRateFn + pensionSuppFn + energySuppFn; // couple: each partner's share; total household = ×2 but we show per-person
/ ── INCOME TEST ── / const annualCombined = annualSelf + annualPartner; const fnIncome = annualCombined / 26; const freeAreaFn = single ? 212.00 : 372.00; // combined for couple const incomeReduction = Math.max(0, (fnIncome - freeAreaFn) * 0.50); let cpAfterIncomeFn = Math.max(0, cpMaxFn - incomeReduction);
/ ── ASSETS TEST ── / const assetLimits = { single_home: 314000, single_nonhome: 566000, couple_home: 470000, couple_nonhome: 722000, }; const assetKey = (single ? 'single' : 'couple') + '_' + (homeowner === 'yes' ? 'home' : 'nonhome'); const assetLimit = assetLimits[assetKey]; const assetsFail = assets > assetLimit; if(assetsFail){ cpEligible = false; eligNotes.push('⚠️ Your assets ($' + assets.toLocaleString('en-AU') + ') exceed the ' + (homeowner==='yes'?'homeowner':'non-homeowner') + ' limit of $' + assetLimit.toLocaleString('en-AU') + '. Carer Payment is not payable.'); }
/ ── RENT ASSISTANCE ── / const rentThreshFn = single ? 149.00 : 241.80; const maxRAFn = single ? 211.20 : 199.00; let raFn = 0; if(paysRent && cpEligible && rentFn > rentThreshFn){ raFn = Math.min(maxRAFn, (rentFn - rentThreshFn) * 0.75); }
/ ── CARER ALLOWANCE ── / // $153.50 fn per care receiver let caFn = 0; if(caEligible){ if(careType === 'child' || careType === 'both'){ caFn += 153.50; // for child } if(careType === 'adult' || careType === 'both'){ caFn += 153.50; // for adult } }
/ ── TOTALS ── / const cpFinalFn = cpEligible ? cpAfterIncomeFn : 0; const totalFn = cpFinalFn + raFn + caFn; const totalAnnual = totalFn * 26; const cpAnnual = cpFinalFn * 26; const raAnnual = raFn * 26; const caAnnual = caFn * 26;
/ ── BUILD OUTPUT ── / let html = '';
if(eligNotes.length){ html += '' + eligNotes.map(n=>''+n+'
').join('') + ''; }
html += '### Estimated Fortnightly Payments '; html += ''; html += '' + 'Payment' + 'Fortnightly' + 'Annual' + '';
/ CP row / html += 'Carer Payment' + (cpEligible ? '' : ' (not payable)') + '' + '' + carFmt(cpFinalFn) + '' + '' + carFmt(cpAnnual) + '';
/ CA row / if(caFn > 0){ html += 'Carer Allowance' + (careType==='both' ? ' (×2 care receivers)' : '') + '' + '' + carFmt(caFn) + '' + '' + carFmt(caAnnual) + ''; } else { html += 'Carer Allowance (not payable / uncertain)' + '$0.00' + '$0.00'; }
/ RA row / if(paysRent){ html += 'Rent Assistance' + (!cpEligible ? ' (not payable — CP not payable)' : '') + '' + '' + carFmt(raFn) + '' + '' + carFmt(raAnnual) + ''; }
/ Total / html += '' + 'Total Estimated Payment' + '' + carFmt(totalFn) + '' + '' + carFmt(totalAnnual) + ''; html += '';
/ breakdown / html += '#### Calculation Breakdown '; html += ''; html += 'CP maximum rate (fn)' + '' + carFmt(cpMaxFn) + ''; html += 'Combined fortnightly income' + '' + carFmt(fnIncome) + ''; html += 'Income free area' + '' + carFmt(freeAreaFn) + ''; html += 'Income reduction (50¢ per $1 over free area)' + '−' + carFmt(incomeReduction) + ''; html += 'CP after income test' + '' + carFmt(cpEligible ? cpAfterIncomeFn : 0) + ''; html += 'Assets limit (' + assetKey.replace('_',' / ') + ')' + '$' + assetLimit.toLocaleString('en-AU') + ''; if(paysRent){ html += 'Rent (fn) / Threshold / RA rate' + '' + carFmt(rentFn) + ' / ' + carFmt(rentThreshFn) + ' / 75%'; } html += '';
/ Carer Supplement note / html += '💡 Carer Supplement: If you receive Carer Payment or Carer Allowance on 1 July each year, you automatically receive a lump-sum Carer Supplement of $600 (not included above).
';
html += 'This is an estimate only. Actual payments depend on a full Centrelink assessment.
';
showCarResult(html); }
function showCarResult(html){ const el = carEl('car-result'); el.innerHTML = html; el.style.display = 'block'; el.scrollIntoView({behavior:'smooth', block:'start'}); }
/ initialise / carUpdate();
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