Carer Payment vs Carer Allowance: What's the Difference and Can You Get Both?
By FindMyHelp Editorial Team · Reviewed against official sources on
Caring for someone you love is a full-time job for many families. It often means working less or not at all. Two Centrelink payments are meant to help: Carer Payment and Carer Allowance. The names are almost the same, so it's easy to mix them up, but they do quite different things. Many carers can get both. This guide explains the difference in plain English.
Try it: see what you could get from both payments with our free Carer Payment calculator.
The short answer
- Carer Payment is income support. It's like a pension, for people whose caring role stops them working full time. It's income and assets tested, and the rate depends on your circumstances.
- Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment. It's a set fortnightly top-up for people who give daily care. It has an income test but no assets test, and you can get it even if you work.
- You may be able to get both. You can make a combined claim (Services Australia – Carer Payment).
Side-by-side comparison
| Carer Payment | Carer Allowance | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Income support if you give constant care | Supplementary payment if you give daily care |
| Care needed | Constant care for someone who needs care for at least 6 months, or end-of-life care | Daily care for someone who needs ongoing daily care for at least 12 months, or has a terminal medical condition |
| How much | Up to $1,237.70 a fortnight (single, total) | $162.60 a fortnight (set rate) |
| Income test | Yes, for you and your partner. The person you care for must also meet income and assets limits | Yes. Combined adjusted taxable income under $250,000 a year |
| Assets test | Yes | No |
| Can you work? | Up to 100 hours in a 4-week period | Work income doesn't change the rate while under the income limit |
| Taxable? | Yes, if you or the person you care for are Age Pension age or older | No |
| Carer Supplement | Yes, up to $600 a year | Yes, up to $600 a year |
Sources: Who can get Carer Payment, How much Carer Payment, Carer Allowance, Who can get Carer Allowance, How much Carer Allowance, Carer Supplement.
Carer Payment explained
Who it's for
Carer Payment can help if you give constant care to someone with disability or a medical condition, or to an adult who's frail aged. They must need care for at least 6 months. It also covers caring for someone at the end of their life (Services Australia).
"Constant care" means caring for a large part of every day, roughly the same as a normal working day, so that you can't work full time. Care can include:
- physical help, such as lifting or help to get dressed
- guidance, such as support with shopping and taking the right medication
- supervision, to keep them independent and safe.
Both you and the person you care for must be Australian residents and meet an income and assets test. You can care for one or more people in their home (Services Australia).
Working while getting Carer Payment
You may still get Carer Payment if you do paid work or are self-employed for up to 100 hours in a 4-week period (Services Australia).
How much is Carer Payment?
Carer Payment is paid at pension rates. Here are the maximum rates per fortnight as shown by Services Australia on 26 October 2026 (Services Australia):
| Per fortnight | Single | Couple (each) | Couple (combined) | Couple separated due to ill health (each) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum basic rate | $1,135.40 | $855.90 | $1,711.80 | $1,135.40 |
| Maximum Pension Supplement | $88.20 | $66.50 | $133.00 | $88.20 |
| Energy Supplement | $14.10 | $10.60 | $21.20 | $14.10 |
| Total | $1,237.70 | $933.00 | $1,866.00 | $1,237.70 |
These are maximum rates. Your actual rate depends on your income and assets, and on your partner's. Rates are adjusted every 20 March and 20 September.
Tax: If you or the person you care for are Age Pension age or older, Carer Payment is taxable. Services Australia doesn't take tax out automatically, but you can ask it to, which can help you avoid a debt at tax time.
Carer Allowance explained
Who it's for
Carer Allowance is for people who give daily care and attention to someone with disability or a medical condition, or who is frail aged. The care happens in their home or yours. The person must need ongoing daily care for at least 12 months, or have a terminal medical condition (Services Australia).
- Income test: You and your partner's combined adjusted taxable income must be under $250,000 a financial year (before tax).
- No assets test, and no income test for the person you care for.
- Children: If you care for someone under 16, you'll also get a Health Care Card for them, to help with medicine and health costs (Services Australia).
How much is Carer Allowance?
$162.60 a fortnight. It's a set rate, and it isn't counted as taxable income. Work income doesn't change it while you're under the $250,000 limit. The rate is adjusted on 1 January each year (Services Australia).
Sharing the care
If you share care with another carer who isn't your partner, and they also claim, you may each get a part payment based on how much of the care you each provide. Services Australia gives the example of two sisters sharing care of their father (Services Australia).
Extra payments: Carer Supplement
Carer Supplement is an annual payment of up to $600 for each eligible payment you get. That includes Carer Payment and Carer Allowance. You don't need to apply. It's paid automatically if you're getting an eligible payment for a period that includes 1 July (Services Australia – Carer Supplement).
If you care for a child with disability or a severe medical condition and get Carer Allowance, you may also automatically get the Child Disability Assistance Payment each year (Services Australia).
Can you get both?
Yes, many carers can. If your caring is constant and limits your work, you may qualify for Carer Payment. If you also meet the Carer Allowance rules, you may get both. Services Australia lets you lodge a combined claim for the two payments (Services Australia – Carer Payment).
If you don't qualify for Carer Payment, for example because of income or assets, you may still get Carer Allowance. It has no assets test and a much higher income limit.
How to claim
- Check you're eligible using the Services Australia "Who can get it" pages for Carer Payment and Carer Allowance.
- Claim online through your Centrelink online account in myGov. Services Australia says this is the easiest way. You can also claim by phone on the Disability, sickness and carers line, or at a service centre (How to claim Carer Payment; How to claim Carer Allowance).
- Answer questions about the person you care for and the care they need. You may be asked for medical forms or other documents.
- Track your claim in myGov or the Express Plus Centrelink app.
Claim early. For Carer Payment, Services Australia says it usually only pays from the date you lodge your claim (Services Australia). Waiting periods may also apply before the first payment.
Claiming for someone else? You need to be their Centrelink Correspondence Nominee, and the person you're claiming for has to start that arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
What's the main difference between Carer Payment and Carer Allowance?
Carer Payment is income support for people who give constant care and can't work full time. It's income and assets tested. Carer Allowance is a set fortnightly top-up for daily care, with an income test and no assets test.
How much is Carer Payment per fortnight?
Up to $1,237.70 a fortnight for a single person, or $933.00 each for a couple, including supplements. These are the maximum rates shown by Services Australia on 26 October 2026. Your rate depends on income and assets.
How much is Carer Allowance?
$162.60 a fortnight. It's a set rate, it's not taxable, and it's adjusted each 1 January (Services Australia).
Can I work and get Carer Payment?
Yes, for up to 100 hours in a 4-week period, as long as you still meet the other rules (Services Australia).
Is Carer Allowance means tested?
There's an income test (combined adjusted taxable income under $250,000 a year) but no assets test, and no income test for the person you care for.
Do I have to apply for Carer Supplement?
No. It's paid automatically each year if you get an eligible payment, such as Carer Payment or Carer Allowance, for a period that includes 1 July.
Caring is easier with the right help
Find NDIS providers near you
Send one free request and get matched with local providers who have availability. Free for families and carers.
Payments help, but so does a break, and so does reliable support at home. Find NDIS and aged care providers near you on FindMyHelp. That includes respite, in-home support and personal care. Send one free request and get matched. It's free for families and carers.
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Payment rates and rules change. Check Services Australia for your situation, or call the Disability, sickness and carers line.