Carer Payment and Carer Allowance help.

I've tried the c'link websites but i cant seem to find what im looking for and im about to leave a contact request with them.

Currently for Dj we only claim the cares allowance, but with him going to school next year we where thinking about claiming the pension for him - as the need for clothes EG school uniforms/ aids ect will go up..
am i correct in thinking that its eather cares pension or FTB a/b? im really quite lost and looking for simple forms to explain it all is not happening. where should i be looking to see which one would be the best for DJ.

Carer pension is for the carer. It's an in me support payment (like parenting or newstart), is income and assets tested etc. it is paid alongside FTB if you qualify for it

Carer payment is not automatic if you qualify for carer allowance. I would suggest you apply (sooner rather than later) and see what happens. No guarantees ( there are thousands of people getting carer allowance that don't qualify for carer payment) but if you don't apply you'll never be assessed and never know for sure. Don't wait for school start or anything like that. Do it now.

Thats why im looking now.. we got knocked back two and a bit years ago, because dj's needs wheren't much grater then a normal 2year old...but now they are.. i left a thing to be contacted about it, so we can apply asap even if we get knocked back so be it... But we never wanted to apply until dj's needs became geater then that of a child his age, but seeing as we're now looking at needing hoists ect for baths and no doubt there will be monatary gaps we're trying again.

Sounds reasonable.
I'd also contact directly by phone. There is no guarantee of a speedy callback. And the date a payment is granted is based on your first contact.

It's also got a freakin' huge backlog at the moment Dani, we put in a carer allowance claim for Professor which is now 6 weeks overdue, and they've said it could be months. I keep getting told it'll be backpaid, but that does me no good, I need the money NOW! So start the process ASAP :)

Yeah, i heard that through ECIS they said other clients have been waiting for what seems like forever.

Just for a little info, if you really think you are entitled to it and get knocked back, appeal, my mum got knocked back for 18months straight because "the condition wasn't in their legislation" after numerous calls and crying to supervisors and their support workers it finally got approved and backdated by 6 months. Make sure the dr filling out the form is not conservative in you child's needs! The first 2 who filled out mums were which was the main reason it was knocked back. And get as many supporting documents as you can!

We're lucky as our gp is very understanding as is our pead, we're also going through the throws of assesments for dj to go to the speical school, so i'll ask the school for a copy of reports.

We got knocked back i think due to dj's needs not being more then his peers as such.

i am currently waiting for a "call back" to see where my applications stand.. i need to be able to afford his melatonin and pay for ds assessment.. our pead couldn't believe that we hadn't heard anything back yet! if i do get knocked back i will be appealing it as how am i meant to afford stuff he needs! man i hate centrelink!

Good on you and good luck! I know how frustrating it can be! They wouldn't give my stepfather disability pension for 6 months, knocked back twice, as the doctors couldn't say how long his pancreatic cancer would last, he ended up passing away in April from it, only 16 months after being diagnosed. (Different I know, but shows how flawed the system is)

so apparently they are still getting processed.. he couldn't tell me how much longer it would take.. apparently they had to back pay someone 2000 dollars as thats how behind they are at the minute! oh yay! so the waiting game continues!

I know that seems like a lot but given carers payment at full rate is $700ish p/fn that is only roughly 6 weeks (3 fortnights)... Which seems like a lifetime during the processing, but it is better than 6 months! Hang in there in the mean time and I'll cross my fingers for you! It frustrates me that people that need it have to wait forever and fight, but those that just waste away their money appear to have such easy access to it! Hopefully you don't have to wait much longer, don't be afraid to call once a week to see how it's going, it can help sometimes :-)

it was just for the carers allowance apparently so i'm guessing they are backlogged a fair way! oh yeah don't get me started on fairness! i'm confused as to why melatonin isn't on the pbs but thems the breaks! yeah i'll give it a bit longer and call them back!! thanks for having your fingers crossed :)

Carers Allowance claims are WAY behind.

I sent in my reassessment forms 7 weeks ago (so not even a new claim to be assessed) as I was getting 1 carer's allowance for both my boys bit now they both have been diagnosed with ASD it's a reassessment to be 2 payments.

I've been told to just wait it out as I'll get backpaid but we are also waiting for the payment to be processed as we have had to buy additional things for the boys - while we get our FaCHSIA funding worked out.

My sister lodged a new claim at hers took 9 weeks to be processed.

7weeks wow! I expect a wait, which is ok.
We're lucky our gp and pead know dj and his issues im not sure if angelmans is on their list but its now on the better start funding.

I'll call them once i get the boys settled and just see...