Carer Allowance 2026 — How Much, Income Limit and Working
Carer Allowance is $162.60 a fortnight, a set rate that isn't taxed. Your wages don't reduce it: the only income test is that you and your partner's combined adjusted taxable income is under $250,000 a year. You can get it on top of Carer Payment, and each brings a $600 Carer Supplement every year.
Carer Allowance Calculator
Carer Supplement is paid if you get the payment for a period that includes 1 July. Carer Payment is estimated with the single pension income test only — use the Carer Payment calculator for couples, the Work Bonus and the hours check.
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How Much Is Carer Allowance?
$162.60 a fortnight. It is a set rate — not reduced by your wages or savings — and it is adjusted on 1 January each year, not in March and September like the pensions. It isn't part of your taxable income. If you share the care of someone with another carer who is not your partner and they also claim, each of you gets a part payment based on the percentage of care you provide.
If you get Carer Allowance for a period that includes 1 July, Services Australia also pays the $600 Carer Supplement automatically, and the Child Disability Assistance Payment if you care for a child with disability or a severe medical condition.
Carer Allowance Income Limit
Your and your partner's combined adjusted taxable income must be less than $250,000 per financial year. There is no assets test, and no income test for the person you care for. If you care for someone under 16 you also get a Health Care Card for them.
| Combined adjusted taxable income | Carer Allowance a fortnight |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $162.60 |
| $120,000 | $162.60 |
| $200,000 | $162.60 |
| $249,999 | $162.60 |
| $250,000 | $0.00 |
Carer Allowance vs Carer Payment
| Carer Allowance | Carer Payment | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Supplementary payment for daily care | Income support at the pension rate for constant care |
| Amount a fortnight | $162.60 set rate | Up to $1,237.70 single, $933.00 each couple |
| Income test | Combined ATI under $250,000 a year | Pension income test: 50c per $1 over $226 a fortnight (single) |
| Assets test | None | Yes — you and the person you care for |
| Work | Wages don't reduce it | Up to 100 hours in 4 weeks, and pay reduces it |
| Care need | Daily care, for at least 12 months or a terminal condition | Constant care, for at least 6 months or end of life |
| Taxable? | No | Only if you or the person you care for are Age Pension age |
| Carer Supplement | $600 a year | $600 a year |
You can claim both at once with a combined claim. If your pay, your hours or your assets rule out Carer Payment, you may still get Carer Allowance.
Working While Getting Carer Allowance
So a carer earning, say, $1,500 a fortnight keeps the full $162.60 (if household income is under the limit), while the same wages would take Carer Payment down to $600.70 for a single carer. Check your take-home pay on wages plus payments with the take-home pay calculator — Carer Allowance itself adds no tax.
Related Calculators and Guides
- Centrelink income test guide — free areas, tapers and cut-offs for every payment
- Carer Payment calculator — the pension-rate payment with the 100-hour work rule
- Centrelink advance payment calculator — how much you can borrow and what comes off each fortnight
- Crisis Payment — the one-off payment after an extreme circumstance
- Centrelink debt — overpayments, refunds and the income apportionment scheme
- Cost of living payment 2026 — what actually exists this year
- Paid Parental Leave calculator — 26 weeks from 1 July 2026, days, split and super
- JobSeeker payment calculator — what you keep when you work part-time
- Age Pension calculator — rates from 20 September 2026 and the income test, with the Work Bonus
- Age Pension assets test calculator — limits, the $3-per-$1,000 taper and which test applies
- Deeming rates and calculator — 1.75% and 3.75% from 20 September 2026
- Disability Support Pension calculator — rates, the income test and the 29-hour work rule
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card — the income limit, deeming and a quick eligibility check
- Child Care Subsidy calculator — your CCS % on family income and the gap fee
- Parenting Payment calculator — single and partnered
- Fortnightly pay calculator — the gross fortnightly figure Centrelink asks for
How this calculator works▼
- Carer Allowance = $162.60 × your share of care, or $0 when combined adjusted taxable income is $250,000 or more (the limit is “less than” $250,000).
- Carer Supplement of $600 per eligible payment, once a year. Yearly total assumes 26 fortnights.
- Figures read at Services Australia on 23 September 2026. Pay Calculator Australia is not Services Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carer Allowance questions and answers
How much is Carer Allowance?
$162.60 a fortnight — a set rate, adjusted on 1 January each year. If you share care with another carer who is not your partner, each of you may get a part payment based on your percentage of care.
What is the income limit for Carer Allowance?
Your and your partner's combined adjusted taxable income must be less than $250,000 per financial year. There is no assets test, and no income test for the person you care for.
Does working affect Carer Allowance?
No, as long as combined income stays under $250,000 a year. Carer Allowance has no fortnightly income test, so your wages don't reduce it — you still need to be giving daily care. Carer Payment is different — it has an income test and a 100-hours-in-4-weeks work limit.
Is Carer Allowance taxable?
No. Services Australia says Carer Allowance isn't part of your taxable income, so it does not go on your tax return.
What is the Carer Supplement?
An annual payment of up to $600 for each eligible payment, paid automatically if you get Carer Allowance (or Carer Payment) for a period that includes 1 July. Someone on both payments gets it for each.
$162.60 a fortnight — a set rate, adjusted on 1 January each year. If you share care with another carer who is not your partner, each of you may get a part payment based on your percentage of care.
Your and your partner's combined adjusted taxable income must be less than $250,000 per financial year. There is no assets test, and no income test for the person you care for.
No, as long as combined income stays under $250,000 a year. Carer Allowance has no fortnightly income test, so your wages don't reduce it — you still need to be giving daily care. Carer Payment is different — it has an income test and a 100-hours-in-4-weeks work limit.
No. Services Australia says Carer Allowance isn't part of your taxable income, so it does not go on your tax return.
An annual payment of up to $600 for each eligible payment, paid automatically if you get Carer Allowance (or Carer Payment) for a period that includes 1 July. Someone on both payments gets it for each.
Sources & References
- 1Carer Allowance— Services Australia
- 2How much Carer Allowance you can get— Services Australia
- 3Who can get Carer Allowance— Services Australia
- 4Carer Supplement— Services Australia
- 5How much Carer Payment you can get— Services Australia
- 6Working while you get Carer Payment— Services Australia
Last verified: 23 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
Areas of Expertise
What to check next
People reading this page usually work these out too.
- Centrelink Income TestHow free areas, tapers and cut-offs reduce a payment.
- JobSeeker Payment CalculatorWhat you keep of JobSeeker when you work part-time.
- Austudy & Youth Allowance CalculatorThe student income test with current rates.
- Working Credit CalculatorHow unused free area banks up and shields future earnings.
- Parenting Payment CalculatorSingle and partnered income tests.
- Fortnightly Pay CalculatorThe fortnightly tax calculator: tax and take-home every pay.