Social Security Compass Australia · public support navigator
Start here

I cannot work because I provide constant care · Services Australia

Carer Payment

Income-support pension for people who cannot work because they provide constant care. Paid at the pension rate. Income and assets tested.

$1,200.90 / fortnight

Hover the amount for four other currencies (live rate).

Who it is for

Carers of a person with a severe disability, medical condition or who is frail aged, where the care is constant.

State income support for carers. Not a private carer or trauma policy.

Conditions

Care
Constant care of a person who meets the care-receiver rules.
Work
You cannot work (or study) beyond the allowed hours because of the care.
Means test
Pension income and assets tests.

Rates

Primary source first. A disputed or stale figure stays visible. Hover a rand or dollar figure for four other currencies. W weekly · F fortnightly · M monthly · A annually.

International agreement / AWLR check

If you have lived or worked in an Australian social-security agreement country, an agreement may affect qualification or payment overseas. Australian working life residence (AWLR) can also affect the proportional rate of many agreement pensions paid outside Australia.

Cross-checks

How to apply

Services Australia. Medical report for the care receiver. Care load is assessed.

Methodology

coreau_ss_methodology.centrelink_indexation

Maximum rates from Services Australia. Pensions and most allowances index on 20 March and 20 September. FTB indexes 1 July. Income and assets tests can pay less than the maximum. Current Compass figures are overlaid from the 1 July–19 September 2026 payments guide (co029-2607). Change this row in Core AU and the Compass follows.

  1. Read the live Services Australia page for that payment.
  2. Cross-check A guide to Australian Government payments for the current quarter (Core AU job payments_guide_quarterly).
  3. Do not treat a September-preview blog figure as in force before indexation day.