Ken Wyatt (Hasluck, Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

TT (—) (): Today we move forward with the Social Security Amendment (Improved Child to Adult Transfer for Carer Payment and Carer Allowance) Bill 2022. This bill helps to ensure a smoother transition for carers moving from the child to the adult stream of the carer payment or care allowance. From 1 April 2023, the measure will ensure all carers retain equal access to carer payment and care allowance until their care receiver turns 16 years and three months. At this time they can transfer to the adult stream of payment if they are assessed as eligible. The measure also ensures carers who submit their documentation for the adult stream before their care receiver turns 16 years but have not been assessed by the time to care receiver turns 16 years and three months will remain eligible for payment until the claim is assessed.

The standalone carer allowance healthcare card currently cancels when the care receiver turns 16 years of age. Under this measure, qualification for the standalone HCC would align with the carer allowance, meaning all standalone carer allowance healthcare cards will continue until the carer receiver turns 16 years and three months of age. The Australian government is committed to achieving fair and equitable access to payments and supporting carers, allocating around $9 billion per year to over 620,000 carers. This bill builds on the Australian government's commitment. We have listened to carers and acted to make this process simpler and easier for them and their families.

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