2,464 carers across the NT will receive a $600 Carer Supplement.
Date: 30 June 2010
From tomorrow 2,464 carers across the Northern Territory will receive a $600 Carer Supplement, as part of the Federal Government's Secure and Sustainable Pension Reform.
Senator Crossin said, "Many carers are doing it tough. We rely on carers in our community and the Gillard Labor Government is committed to supporting our carers."
"This payment recognises the significant challenges facing carers who make enormous sacrifices to care for a loved one."
The annual $600 Supplement will be paid to people who receive:
- Carer Payment;
- both Wife Pension and Carer Allowance;
- both Department of Veterans' Affairs Partner Service Pension and Carer Allowance; and
- Department of Veterans' Affairs Carer Service pension.
The payment will also be provided to recipients of Carer Allowance for each person they care for.
This means that if a person is in receipt of Carer Allowance and Carer Payment (or Wife Pension, Department of Veterans' Affairs Service Pension or Carer Service pension) they will qualify for two Carer Supplement payments, with an additional payment for each extra person they care for.
Senator Crossin said, "The annual Carer Supplement will make a real difference for carers. It will give carers greater financial certainty, and will help carers to meet unexpected costs."
Most Carer Supplement payments will be paid between Thursday 1 July and Wednesday 14 July. The annual cost of the Carer Supplement is around $440 million.
Those people interested in finding out more information about the Carer Supplement can call the Centrelink Disability and Carers line on 13 27 17.