Carer Allowance recipients are being urged to take action and complete their Carer Allowance Income Review in time for the introduction of a new income test this month.
Carers receiving or applying for Carer Allowance and the Carer Allowance Health Care Card will be subject to a $250,000 combined family income test from 20 September 2018.
The Department of Human Services will be writing to 143,000 current Carer Allowance recipients and Carer Allowance Health Care Card holders in September, asking them to complete an income review by providing details of their and their partner’s adjusted taxable income.
Carers will have 28 days to provide the requested income information or else risk having their Carer Allowance and their Carer Allowance Health Care Card cancelled.
The quickest and most convenient way to provide this information is online via myGov. The letter, which carers may receive through their myGov Inbox or by postal mail, will provide instructions on how to complete the income review.
As part of the revised eligibility criteria, some applicants submitting a new claim for Carer Allowance and the Carer Allowance Health Care Card from 20 September 2018 will also need to provide this income information.
Some Carer Allowance recipients and applicants may be exempt from providing their income details for the new income test, if they or their partner already receive an income-tested Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs payment, a fortnightly family assistance payment, or are a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holder. These carers will not be asked to complete an income review.
It is expected the vast majority of carers – around 99 per cent – will not be impacted by the new income test.
To find out more about the new Carer Allowance income test, visit humanservices.gov.au/carerallowanceincomereviews