How Much Is Carer Payment & Allowance 2026? $1,200.90/fn Single, $905.20 Partnered

Carer Payment is paid at the same rate as the Age Pension. From 20 March 2026, the maximum rate for a single carer is $1,200.90 per fortnight ($31,223.40 per year). For partnered carers, each receives up to $905.20 per fortnight ($23,535.20 per year).

These rates include the base rate ($1,100.30 single / $829.40 partnered), Pension Supplement ($86.50 / $65.20), and Energy Supplement ($14.10 / $10.60). Carer Payment recipients also receive a Pensioner Concession Card, which provides discounts on PBS medicines, bulk-billed medical services, and utility bills.

Carer Payment is a tax-free payment. These are the 20 March 2026 rates (Services Australia, how much Carer Payment you can get); the payment is indexed on 20 March and 20 September, so the next change is due on 20 September 2026. Check your own income and assets against the tests with the Carer Payment calculator.

This is one of the most common points of confusion. Carer Payment is a full income support payment for people who can't work because they provide constant care. It IS income and asset tested.

Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment of $162.60 per fortnight (from 1 January 2026) that's NOT asset tested and only has a $250,000 family income limit — most carers providing daily care can receive it. You can receive BOTH at the same time; see our Carer Allowance 2026 guide or the Carer Allowance checker.

Carer Allowance is available to people who provide daily care for someone with a disability, medical condition, or who is frail aged. You don't need to be the person's sole carer to receive Carer Allowance, and you can work full-time while receiving it. Carer Payment, by contrast, requires you to provide constant care and limits paid work to 100 hours over each 4-week period.

To receive Carer Payment, you must be providing constant care to someone who has a severe disability, severe medical condition, or who is frail aged. 'Constant care' means you personally provide care in the home of the person you care for. The care receiver must score high enough on the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT) — this is assessed by their treating doctor and you. You must be an Australian resident, and both you and the care receiver must pass identity and residence requirements.

If caring for a child under 16, they must qualify under the Disability Care Load Assessment (DCLA). You can care for more than one person and receive a single Carer Payment.

Since 20 March 2025, Carer Payment allows you to do paid work for up to 100 hours over each 4-week period (Services Australia, working while you get Carer Payment). The old 25-hours-per-week rule is gone, and study, volunteering and travel time no longer count towards the limit — only paid work does. If you care for more than one person, the 100-hour limit still applies in total.

The income test is the same as the Age Pension: from 1 July 2026, $226 per fortnight free area for singles, $396 combined for couples, with a 50-cent taper above that. Financial assets are subject to deeming.

If you exceed the 100-hour limit, your Carer Payment may be suspended rather than cancelled outright — tell Centrelink promptly. You can also use 'temporary cessation of care' (respite) days for occasional periods where you're not providing care.

Carer Payment includes up to 63 'temporary cessation of care' (respite) days per calendar year. These allow you to take a break from caring — whether that's for a holiday, your own medical appointments, or if the person you care for enters hospital or respite care. You still receive Carer Payment during these days.

And if the care receiver is hospitalised, there are separate hospitalisation days (up to 63 per calendar year) that don't count against your respite days. If you exceed your respite or hospitalisation days, your Carer Payment may be suspended.

You're not required to 'use up' respite days for short breaks of less than 24 hours or if another person provides care while you attend work (within the 100-hours-per-4-weeks limit).

Apply online through myGov (linked to Centrelink), by calling 132 717, or in person at a Services Australia centre. You'll need: medical reports for the care receiver, a completed ADAT or DCLA (your doctor helps with this), identity documents, and income/asset details. Processing typically takes 4-8 weeks.

If you're already receiving another Centrelink payment and begin providing full-time care, you can transfer to Carer Payment. If your claim is rejected, you can request a review — many rejections are overturned when better medical evidence is provided.

Use our free Carer Payment calculator to estimate your entitlement based on your income and assets.