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).
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).
- This tool estimates CP and CA only; it does not cover Carer Supplement ($600/year lump sum, paid automatically in July).
- The care receiver's income and assets test is not modelled here; it is assumed the care receiver meets their qualifying criteria.
- Constant care requirement: the carer must provide care on a daily basis that is equivalent to a normal working week.
- Work/study/training limit: up to 25 hours per week (including travel) is permitted without losing CP.
- Assets test uses the lower (homeowner) and higher (non-homeowner) thresholds for a single person or couple.
- Rent Assistance is only payable if CP is payable and the carer pays private rent above the threshold.
- Results are estimates only. Contact Services Australia or a financial counsellor for a formal assessment.
- Source: Services Australia – Carer Payment and Carer Allowance.