From July 3, Centrelink will send an extra payment to thousands of Australian caregivers. This is on top of their regular payments. The Carer Benefit Supplement will also be deposited into their bank accounts.
This payment is equivalent to around $600 annually for those who receive veterans’ affairs or carer payments.
According to Services Australia, if caregivers receive an eligible payment between July 1, 2024, and August 2, 2024, they will be entitled to receive the Carer Benefit Supplement.
They don’t need to do anything to receive this payment.
The Carer Payment is a government payment that’s usually given to around 300,000 individuals who provide continuous care to people with a disability or a medical condition.
The Carer Benefit Supplement is also accompanied by the Carer Allowance, which provides additional payments to around 640,000 caregivers who look after individuals who require daily support.
Both the Carer Benefit and the Veterans Affairs’ Partner Service Pension are eligible for automatic payment.
Since 2009, the Carer Supplement has been an annual payment of around $600 for every eligible payment that you receive.
It can be used to supplement your regular payments. For instance, if you receive the Carer Allowance and the Carer Payment, then you’ll get two supplements.
Depending on the percentage of care that you provide, the amount of the Carer Supplement can vary.
As a result, some caregivers are calling for higher payments from Centrelink. They said they’re struggling to make ends meet due to the high cost of living.
George Helon from Toowoomba has been providing continuous care for his mother Elizabeth for the last 13 years.
Helon receives the Carer Benefit at a rate of $153.50 per fortnight. Helon noted that the allowance doesn’t cover the cost of filling up his vehicle’s gas tank.
He’s not eligible for the Carer Payment’s higher rate of $11,1630. He said that it’s a bloody insult to the people who provide continuous care.
According to Jim Toohey, the chairman of Carer Queensland, over 40 billion dollars worth of unpaid care is provided by Australian caregivers every year.
These individuals typically make numerous sacrifices to meet their duties. It can have a significant impact on their mental and physical health.
Toohey noted that the modest payment rate is in line with the sacrifices that caregivers make to look after their loved ones.
However, an increase in the amount of money that the government provides to these individuals would be beneficial.