Can you receive money as a carer for your partner?

There are many different payments and supplements available to seniors and retirees to help with daily living and health expenses if they are responsible for the care of a dependent partner.

Key points:

• Different payments and supplements are available to help with daily living expenses
• Some people do not see themselves as carers despite being the primary point of support for a dependent spouse who may be frail or living with a condition which requires care
• There’s no shame in receiving money to help your partner, given the current economic climate

You may be able to access financial support towards energy payments, receive a regular payment because you’re caring for a loved one or are entitled to free health assessments.

This edition of Your Retirement Living has outlined the most commonly accessible benefits and entitlements to help you get started.

All of these benefits are available from Services Australia and are accessed through Centrelink but it’s also a good idea to check with your local Government Health Departments for other available supplements or programs specifically for your State or Territory.

Carer Allowance

Many older people who care for a partner with medical conditions don’t see themselves as carers.

In many cases, in a retiree relationship, either one spouse is providing care to the other or they care for each other. And usually, people are unaware they qualify for financial assistance.

If you provide daily care to an adult or child with disability, you may be able to receive the Carer Allowance.

The Carer Allowance is $144.80 per fortnight (as of July 6, 2023) and covers a maximum of two adults.

For more information about Carer Allowance, visit the Services Australia website to find out if you are eligible or to claim the allowance, or call the Centrelink Disability, Sickness and Carers Line on 13 27 17.

Carer Payment

If you are providing ongoing or constant care to a person with a disability or illness, you may also qualify for a Carer Payment. This payment aims to assist people who have caring duties that stop or impact them from being able to work in paid employment.

The Carer Payment is an income and assets tested support payment, which is considered a form of Government pension.

The eligibility rates for the Carer Payment are the same as the Income and Asset thresholds for the Age Pension.

To find out more about the Carer Payment, head to the Services Australia website or to start the claim process. Or you can call the Centrelink Disability, Sickness and Carers Line on 13 27 17.

Carer Supplement

The Carer Supplement is an annual lump sum to financially top-up carers besides receiving their normal income payments.

You may be eligible to receive the supplement of $600 per person per year if you receive an income support payment like the Carer Allowance, Carer Payment, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Partner Service Pension and Carer Allowances, or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Carer Service Pension.

If eligible for the payment, you will receive the supplement for each person you care for. If you are a part time carer, you’ll get a part rate of this Carer Supplement depending on how much care hours you currently provide.

You do not have to apply for the supplement, Centrelink will automatically pay you the supplement directly into your bank account if you are eligible and already receive the income support option listed above.

For more information, visit the Services Australia website.

Seniors and Pensioners Tax Offset (SAPTO)

The Seniors and Pensioners Tax Offset (SAPTO) aims to increase an eligible individual’s tax-free threshold, which means you won’t have as much income tax to pay. It isn’t considered a refund.

Depending on your circumstances, SAPTO could reduce your payable tax to zero, so you may not have to lodge a tax return at all.

Your eligibility for the SAPTO will be assessed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) once you submit your tax return.

To be eligible for the SAPTO, you must be receiving the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Pension or Age Pension, and you must have a rebate income threshold test to see if you can receive a full or part offset.

Both you and your spouse can be found eligible for SAPTO, and if you have unused SAPTO, this can be transferred to your spouse.

The current (as of June 2, 2023) maximum tax offset is $2,230 for singles and $1,602 for each member of a couple.

To learn more about SAPTO, head to the Australian Taxation Office website.

Essential Medical Equipment Payment

If you have medical equipment or medically require heating or cooling in your home, then you may be eligible for a yearly payment to help with energy costs.

You can receive $183 per year (as of June 30, 2023) for medically required heating or cooling and each piece of qualifying essential medical equipment.

Some eligible medication conditions include spinal cord injuries, stroke, brain injury, muscular dystrophies, or rare sweating disorders. Other eligible conditions can be found on the Centrelink website. There is also a list of equipment that would be eligible under the payment.

You might have to provide evidence of the equipment you use and what for, so you can receive the payment.

To claim the Medical Equipment Payment, visit the Centrelink website.

Have you done research into the entitlements you might be eligible for? Tell us in the comments below.