How much is Carer Allowance per fortnight?

Carer Allowance is $162.60 a fortnight. It is a flat rate, paid for each eligible person you care for, so caring for more than one person can mean more than one Carer Allowance.

Carer Allowance rates 2026

Carer Allowance · Carer Allowance (per care receiver)

$162.60/fortnight

Basic rate per fortnight · $4,227.60 ≈ per year (×26 fortnights)

Carer Allowance: $162.60
Total per fortnight: $162.60

Effective 1 January 2026 · Source: DSS / Services Australia · What changed on 1 January 2026

Carer Allowance is a supplement for people who give daily care to someone with a disability or a medical condition, whether that person is an adult or a child. It is not a full income support payment; it is a smaller extra amount to help with the costs of caring. It is paid by Services Australia through Centrelink.

This page shows the Carer Allowance rate, with its effective date, and how the income limit works. Carer Allowance is indexed once a year, on 1 January, and the next change is on 1 January 2027.

Full Carer Allowance rate table

Carer Allowance — rates per fortnight
Variant	Base rate	Supplements	Total /fortnight	≈ per year (×26)
Carer Allowance (per care receiver)	$162.60	—	$162.60	$4,227.60

Source: DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 1 January 2026 — Carer Allowance - Rate

Carer Allowance is a flat rate paid every two weeks. It is paid per person you care for, so if you care for more than one eligible person you may get it for each of them. The table on this page shows the rate and its effective date.

There is also a Carer Allowance for people caring for a child, which can come with a Health Care Card. The rate shown is the standard fortnightly Carer Allowance amount.

What changed on 1 January 2026

Carer Allowance: each rate before and after 1 January 2026, per fortnight
Rate	Before 1 January 2026	From 1 January 2026	Change	Change %
Carer Allowance (per care receiver)	$159.30	$162.60	+$3.30	+2.07%

On 1 January 2026, Carer Allowance (per care receiver) rose $3.30, or 2.07%, from $159.30 to $162.60.

Carer Allowance in 2026

Carer Allowance in 2026: the rate in force from each indexation date (— no change)
Rate	Before	1 January 2026	20 March 2026	1 July 2026	20 September 2026	2026 change
Carer Allowance (per care receiver)	$159.30	$162.60	—	—	—	+$3.30 (+2.07%)

Carer Allowance (per care receiver) rose $3.30 (2.07%) across 2026, from $159.30 to $162.60 on 1 January 2026.

How much Carer Allowance pays

The Carer Allowance rate is shown in the data block above, with its effective date. It is a flat amount paid every two weeks, and it is paid for each eligible person you care for.

Unlike most payments, Carer Allowance is not reduced a little at a time by an income test. Instead there is an income limit that you either pass or do not. The next increase is on 1 January 2027.

Carer Allowance: worked examples
Situation	Payment
Caring for 1 person	$162.60 a fortnight
Caring for 2 people	$325.20 a fortnight

Paid for each eligible person you care for, while you and your partner’s combined adjusted taxable income is under the limit.

Caring for 2 people pays $325.20 a fortnight, $162.60 more than caring for 1.

Carer Allowance income test

This is an income limit, not a taper. You qualify if your adjusted taxable income is under the limit — the payment doesn't reduce gradually.

Income at which Carer Allowance stops
Situation	Payment reduces to nil at
Annual adjusted taxable income limit (carer and partner, combined)	$250,000 /fortnight

Carer Allowance is not tapered like most payments. It uses a pass-or-fail income limit based on your family's combined adjusted taxable income for the year.

If your combined income is under the limit, you get the full Carer Allowance. If it is over the limit, you get no Carer Allowance at all. Because there is no gradual reduction, being just over the limit means the whole payment stops.

Adjusted taxable income is more than just your salary. It includes some other amounts, such as reportable fringe benefits and net investment losses. See our adjusted taxable income page for what counts.

Where Carer Allowance stops

Income at which Carer Allowance reaches $0, calculated
Situation	Income free area	Payment reaches $0 at	DSS figure
Carer and partner, combined adjusted taxable income	—	$250,000 a year	Matches the DSS limit

Rounded up to the cent, as DSS rounds its limits.

What this means

Carer Allowance is paid every two weeks at a flat rate. It does not replace a wage; it is a supplement for the extra daily costs of caring, and it can be paid on top of another payment, including Carer Payment, a pension or wages.

The rate is paid per care receiver. If you care for two eligible people, you can generally get Carer Allowance for each of them.

Carer Allowance uses an income limit, not a gradual taper. Your family's combined adjusted taxable income is compared with a set yearly limit. If your income is under the limit you get the full rate; if it is over the limit you get nothing. There is no reduced rate in between.

Carer Allowance is indexed once a year, on 1 January. The next increase is on 1 January 2027, and this page updates to match.

Who can get Carer Allowance

Services Australia assesses Carer Allowance on the care you give and the needs of the person you care for, measured by a care needs assessment, and on your family's combined income against the income limit.

This page reports the rate and the income limit. It does not decide your claim. For the eligibility rules that apply to your own situation, check the official Carer Allowance page linked at the top and bottom of this page.

Rates change at indexation. These figures include the 1 January 2026 indexation. See the full indexation schedule and payment dates.

Carer Allowance: common questions

How much is Carer Allowance per fortnight?: Carer Allowance is $162.60 a fortnight. It is a flat rate, paid for each eligible person you care for, so caring for more than one person can mean more than one Carer Allowance.
Is Carer Allowance income tested?: Yes, but not with a gradual taper. Carer Allowance uses an income limit based on your family's combined adjusted taxable income. If you are under the limit you get the full rate; if you are over it you get nothing. There is no reduced rate in between.
Can I get Carer Allowance and Carer Payment together?: Yes. Carer Payment is a full income support payment, and Carer Allowance is a supplement, so you can be paid both at the same time if you qualify for each. See our Carer Payment versus Carer Allowance comparison for how they differ.
When does Carer Allowance go up next?: Carer Allowance is indexed once a year, on 1 January. The next increase is on 1 January 2027. This page updates to match.
Is Carer Allowance taxable?: No. Carer Allowance is not taxable and you do not include it in your tax return. This is different from Carer Payment, which is generally taxable when both you and the person you care for are under Age Pension age.

Estimates and general information only — not financial advice. Check Services Australia for your circumstances.

Rates effective 1 January 2026 · next scheduled indexation 1 January 2027. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 23 September 2026.