Payments you can get
In addition to Carer Payment and Carer Allowance, there’s other support available if you care for a child with disability.
The Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme can help you if your child can’t attend their local government school. This may be due to disability, special needs or because they’re in an isolated area.
Family Tax Benefit is a 2-part payment that helps with the cost of raising children.
Child Care Subsidy provides assistance to help you with the costs of child care.
Once your child turns 16 they may be able to get their own income support payment. Read more about caring for a child with disability as they get older.
If you already get a payment
Carer Supplement is an annual payment. It helps cover costs when caring for someone with disability or a medical condition. You’ll automatically get Carer Supplement if you get an eligible payment for caring for a period that includes 1 July.
Child Disability Assistance Payment is an annual payment if you get Carer Allowance. You’ll get this payment automatically if both of the following apply, you:
- got Carer Allowance for a period that includes 1 July
- provided care for a child with disability or a severe medical condition.
Carer Adjustment Payment is a one-off payment for carers of a child younger than 7. It helps with children with a medical condition or major disability following a catastrophic event. You’ll need to show a strong need for financial help when you claim this payment.
If you get Carer Payment or Carer Allowance your child will get a Health Care Card. This concession card can help with the cost of health care.
You can call us on your payment line and ask us for an exemption for your mutual obligation requirements. This will depend on your caring responsibilities and can include caring for a child with disability or a medical condition. This applies if you get:
Other support available
There are other sources of support to help you if you care for a child with disability.
You can get early intervention support for your child. This is specialised support if your child has disability or special needs, and includes getting a diagnosis for your child.
You can find out more about early intervention for children with disability on the Raising Children Network website.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding to improve the quality of life for people with disability. Read more on the NDIS website.
The NDIS early childhood early intervention approach supports children younger than 7 who have disability or a developmental delay. Read more about help for children younger than 7 on the NDIS website.
Respite care helps with your caring responsibilities so you can take a break. Read more about respite care for children with disability on the Raising Children Network website.
Tasks you can do online
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to do the following: