Senator Trish Crossin has welcomed the passing of legislation that ensures the 2,249 carers in the Northern Territory can begin to receive their new $600 Carer Supplement, as part of the Australian Government’s Secure and Sustainable Pension Reform.
Date: 18 June 2009
Senator Trish Crossin has welcomed the passing of legislation that ensures the 2,249 carers in the Northern Territory can begin to receive their new $600 Carer Supplement, as part of the Australian Government's Secure and Sustainable Pension Reform.
More NT carers of children with profound disability are also expected to qualify for Carer Payment (child).
The Social Security Legislation Amendment (Improved Support for Carers) Bill 2009 that was passed by the Senate on Tuesday will also deliver simpler and fairer eligibility requirements for Carer Payment (child).
The changes in the guidelines means the eligibility for the payment will now depend on the level of care required rather than a narrow set of medical and behavioural criteria.
"The Government's fairer assessment system will better reflect and respond to the individual circumstances of the child and their carer.
"I congratulate organisations like Darwin Community Legal Services and Carers NT who lobbied their Federal members and Senators to get these important changes to occur," said Senator Crossin.
The $600 annual payment now enshrined in legislation replaces the ad-hoc bonuses of the past.
"The new $600 Carer Supplement is permanent and will provide greater financial security to carers who are under significant financial pressure.
"This payment recognises the significant challenges facing the hundreds of thousands of carers across the country who make enormous sacrifices to care for a loved one," said Senator Crossin
The $600 Supplement will be paid to people who receive:
- Carer Payment
- Both Wife Pension and Carer Allowance
- Both Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Partner Service Pension and Carer Allowance
- DVA Carer Service pension.
Recipients of both Carer Payment and Carer Allowance will receive two Carer Supplement payments worth $1200 in total.
As part of the Government's Secure and Sustainable Pension Reforms, from 20 September 2009 those who receive Carer Payment will also receive a weekly increase of $32.49 for singles on the full rate and $10.14 combined for couples on the full rate.