Two different payments Carer Allowance indexed 1 January
Carer Payment and Carer Allowance Rates
Australia has two carer payments and people confuse them constantly. Carer Payment is an income support payment paid at the common pension rate; Carer Allowance is a smaller supplement that can be paid on top of almost any income.
Current rates
| Your situation | Rate (a fortnight) |
|---|---|
| Carer Payment — single | $1,237.70 |
| Carer Payment — partnered (each) | $933.00 |
| Carer Allowance — per person you care for | $162.60 |
Carer Payment is paid at the common pension rates. Carer Allowance is a separate rate, indexed on 1 January each year rather than on the March and September cycle.
The difference that matters
| Carer Payment | Carer Allowance | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An income support payment | A supplement |
| Income and assets tested | Yes — both | No |
| Can I work? | Limited hours, and the income counts | Yes — no income test at all |
| Rate (a fortnight) | $1,237.70 single | $162.60 per person cared for |
| Can I get both? | Yes — many carers receive Carer Payment and Carer Allowance at the same time | |
The most common mistake is assuming you cannot claim because you work. Carer Allowance has no income test — it is the payment most often missed by people who quietly qualify for it while holding down a job.
What reduces Carer Payment
Carer Payment uses the same two tests as the Age Pension: 50 cents in the dollar on income above the free area, and $3 a fortnight per $1,000 of assets above the assets free area. You get the lower of the two results.
Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment are paid at the common pension rates — the same maximum as the Age Pension. What differs between them is the qualification rules and the means tests, not the rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Carer Allowance?
The current maximum rate is $162.60 a fortnight, and it is paid per person you care for — so caring for two people can mean two allowances. It is indexed on 1 January each year.
How much is Carer Payment?
Carer Payment is paid at the common pension rates: $1,237.70 a fortnight for a single person and $933.00 each for a member of a couple.
Can I get Carer Payment and Carer Allowance at the same time?
Yes. They are separate payments with separate rules, and many carers receive both. Carer Allowance can also be paid to someone who is working and receiving no other payment.
Is Carer Allowance income tested?
No. There is no income test and no assets test on Carer Allowance, which is what separates it from essentially every other payment discussed on this site.
Why is Carer Allowance indexed on a different date?
Because it is a different kind of payment — a supplement rather than an income support payment. It moves on 1 January, while Carer Payment moves on 20 March and 20 September with the other pension rates.
Rates from the Department of Social Services — Social Security Guide (1.342 (21 September 2026)), checked 12 October 2026. General information only — your actual entitlement is assessed by Services Australia.