Carer Allowance 2026: $157.40/fn Rate

Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment from Services Australia (Centrelink) for people who provide daily care and attention to someone with a disability, severe medical condition, or who is frail aged. As of March 2026, the base rate is $157.40 per fortnight.

Here's what makes Carer Allowance different from most other Centrelink payments: there is no income test and no assets test. You can earn any amount of money — whether from wages, salary, investments, or other sources — and still receive the full Carer Allowance. There's no taper, no reduction, no means testing of any kind.

This means you can receive Carer Allowance on top of:

• A full-time or part-time salary
• The Age Pension
• Carer Payment
• Disability Support Pension
• JobSeeker Payment
• Any other income support payment

Many people don't realise they're eligible because they assume their income disqualifies them. It doesn't. If you're providing daily care to someone who meets the medical criteria, you should be claiming this — regardless of how much you earn.

Carer Allowance recognises the significant personal and financial cost of caring. Even at $157.40/fortnight, it adds up to over $4,000 per year — plus supplements that can push the total even higher. It's money many carers are leaving on the table.

Here's the complete breakdown of Carer Allowance rates and supplements as of March 2026:

Payment	Amount	Frequency
Carer Allowance (base rate)	$157.40	Per fortnight
Energy Supplement	$7.90	Per fortnight
Carer Supplement	$600.00	Per year (paid in July)
Child Disability Assistance Payment	$1,000.00	Per year (if caring for a child under 16)

Total fortnightly payment: $157.40 + $7.90 = $165.30 per fortnight

Total annual value:

• Base + Energy Supplement: $165.30 x 26 = $4,297.80/year
• Plus Carer Supplement: $600.00/year
• Plus Child Disability Assistance (if applicable): $1,000.00/year
• Maximum total: up to $5,897.80 per year

The Carer Supplement is an annual lump sum paid each July to everyone receiving Carer Allowance. You don't need to apply for it separately — if you're getting Carer Allowance on 1 July, you'll automatically receive the $600 supplement.

The Child Disability Assistance Payment is an additional $1,000/year paid automatically if you receive Carer Allowance for a child under 16. Again, no separate application needed.

The Energy Supplement is grandfathered for most recipients — if you were receiving Carer Allowance before 20 September 2016, you get it automatically. New recipients after that date may not receive it unless they were continuously on an eligible payment.

These rates are indexed on 20 March and 20 September each year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

To qualify for Carer Allowance, both you (the carer) and the person you care for (the care receiver) must meet specific criteria.

You (the carer) must:

• Be an Australian resident living in Australia
• Provide daily care and attention in a private home (yours or the care receiver's)
• Provide care to someone who has a recognised disability, medical condition, or is frail aged
• Not receive a carer payment from another country for the same person

The care receiver must:

• Have a disability, severe medical condition, or be frail aged
• Be an Australian resident (in most cases)
• Need care in a private home — not in a hospital or residential aged care facility on a permanent basis

For adult care receivers: the care receiver (or their treating doctor) must complete the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT). This is a points-based assessment — the care receiver needs to score 30 points or more to qualify. The ADAT assesses functional ability, behaviour, and the level of care and attention required.

For child care receivers (under 16): eligibility is assessed through the Disability Care Load Assessment (child), also known as the DCLAD. This involves a questionnaire about the child's care needs and a professional assessment of their condition.

How many people can you care for?

• You can receive Carer Allowance for up to 2 adults
• You can receive Carer Allowance for any number of children (under 16)
• You receive the full $157.40/fortnight for each qualifying care receiver

That means if you care for two adults who both qualify, you receive $157.40 x 2 = $314.80 per fortnight, plus supplements for each.

This is the question that confuses almost everyone. Carer Allowance and Carer Payment are two completely different payments — and you can receive both at the same time.

Feature	Carer Allowance	Carer Payment
Rate (March 2026)	$157.40/fortnight	$1,116.30/fortnight (single)
Income test	None	Yes — income reduces payment
Assets test	None	Yes — assets reduce payment
Can you work?	Yes, unlimited hours and income	Limited — 25 hours/week max, income test applies
Health Care Card	Yes (after 12 months continuous receipt)	Yes (immediately)
Can stack with other payments?	Yes — paid on top of any income or payment	Usually replaces other income support payments
Purpose	Supplementary — recognises care burden	Primary income support for full-time carers
Care level required	Daily care and attention	Constant care (more intensive)

The key takeaway: you can receive both Carer Payment and Carer Allowance at the same time. Many carers do. If you're on Carer Payment of $1,116.30/fortnight and also qualify for Carer Allowance, your combined fortnightly payment would be $1,273.70 (plus supplements).

If you're currently receiving Carer Payment but haven't claimed Carer Allowance, you're almost certainly leaving money on the table. The eligibility criteria are different, but if you qualify for Carer Payment (which requires constant care), you'll almost always qualify for Carer Allowance too.

Check your eligibility for Carer Payment using our Carer Payment calculator. And if you're unsure which payments you might be eligible for, start with our Age Pension calculator or Disability Support Pension tool to explore all your options.

Here's the step-by-step process for applying for Carer Allowance in 2026:

1. Set up your myGov account and link Centrelink

   If you don't already have a myGov account, create one at my.gov.au. Then link your Centrelink online account. You'll need your Customer Reference Number (CRN), or you can create a new Centrelink record through myGov.

2. Start an online claim

   Log into myGov, go to Centrelink, and select "Make a claim" then "Carers". Choose "Carer Allowance". The system will guide you through the application questions.

3. Complete the medical report

   Part of the application requires a medical report completed by the care receiver's treating doctor. For adults, this feeds into the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT). For children, it's the Disability Care Load Assessment. Your doctor will need to detail the care receiver's condition, functional limitations, and care needs. Allow time for this — some doctors take weeks to complete it.

4. Complete the care assessment

   You'll need to complete a questionnaire about the level of care you provide — what tasks you help with, how often, and how the care receiver's condition affects daily life. Be thorough and honest. Underplaying the care you provide is the most common reason claims get rejected.

5. Submit and wait

   Current processing times are approximately 8 to 12 weeks from the date you submit a complete application. If approved, your payment is backdated to the date you submitted the claim (not the date it's processed).

Alternative ways to apply:

• In person: visit a Services Australia service centre
• By phone: call 132 717 (Centrelink carers line)

Tips for a successful application:

• Apply as soon as possible — your payment starts from the date of claim, not the date of approval
• Get the medical report done early — it's usually the bottleneck
• Don't minimise the care you provide — describe worst days, not best days
• Keep copies of everything you submit
• If you're rejected, you have the right to appeal — request a formal review within 13 weeks

Related tools:

• Carer Payment Calculator — check if you also qualify for the full Carer Payment
• Age Pension Calculator — for carers approaching pension age
• Disability Support Pension — for the person you care for
• Rent Assistance Calculator — additional help with housing costs