Bendigo Autistic Advocacy and Support Service
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Centrelink
Centrelink
A helpful Centrelink resource: "Payment and Service Finder" - "Helping you find, estimate and compare payments and services you may be eligible for" can be found here.
Parents/Carers
There are a range of Centrelink payments and supports that parents/carers of autistic children/youth may be eligible for.
Often these payments require an application being completed online, medical reports and proof of identity. Centrelink may need to see your birth certificate if it has not been cited or if it has not been presented for some years.
Some of the payments available for carers include:
Carer Allowance
Carer allowance is a fortnightly payment for those providing additional daily care for a child under 16 years of age for disability and/or severe illness.
You may be able to get Carer Allowance for more than 1 person you provide care for.
Application for Carer Allowance involves completing Centrelink forms with many questions about the care you provide, and requires a medical report section to be completed by the relevant medical professional.
Income and assets
There is no income or assets tests for Carer Allowance. It is paid in addition to any income support payment you get or what you earn from your employer.
Over 16 years of age.
Carer Allowance for children/youth 16 years old and older involves a similar application process but strict criteria around level of care.
More information on eligibility can be found here.
New claims can be started with the online form here.
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Carer Payment
A different payment to Carer's Allowance. Recipients of Carer allowance may be eligible to receive Carer Payment. Once carer can only receive Carer Payment for one child.
Carer Payment is paid to those unable to work in substantial paid employment because of being required to provide full time and significant care for a child.
The application process is similar to that of Carer Allowance.
More information about Carer Payment can be found here.
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Child Disability Assistance Payment
An automatic annual payment, paid to recipients of Carer Allowance and Carer Payment.
More information about the Child Disability Assistance Payment can be found here.
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Carer Supplement
An automatic payment to carers receiving Carer Allowance, Carer Payment and other specific pension combinations.
More information about Carer Supplement can be found here.
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Carer Adjustment Payment
A one-off payment for carers experiencing extreme financial hardship and severe illness, disability or catastrophic event.
This payment is for eligible recipients of Carer Allowance, providing full time care to a child under 7 years of age and is subject to specific criteria.
Carer Adjustment Payment has a time limit of 2 years from the date of diagnosis or catastrophic event.
Further information on Carer Adjustment Payment and eligibility can be found here.
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Assistance for Isolated Children
Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) is a payment you may be eligible to receive if:
- you have a child who can’t go to school unless they live away from home, in a second home or study from home
- this is because they live in an isolated area with no local state schools or
- they have a disability or other special need that local state schools can’t meet
More information can be found here.
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Adults and Carers of children/youth over 16 years of age
There are some Centrelink payments for Children/youth over 16 years of age with permanent disability, severe illness or injury impacting on study, accommodation and/or employment.
Some of these include:
Disability Support Pension (DSP)
Financial support for those unable to work because of permanent disability or illness.
More information about the DSP can be found here.
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Sickness Allowance
A temporary payment if you are employed or self employed, but can’t work because of a medical condition. In some cases, full time students can also get Sickness Allowance if they are unable to study due to illness or injury.
Further information can be found here.
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Mobility Allowance
Mobility Allowance is financial assistance to support participation in approved activities when you have disability, illness or injury. This helps with transport costs if you can’t use public transport without assistance, either permanently or for an extended period.
More information can be found here.
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Pensioner Education Supplement
A regular payment to assist with study costs for eligible persons receiving certain payments.
More information on the Pensioner Education Supplement can be found here.
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Youth Disability Supplement
An extra payment if you’re a young person with disability and on some type of income support.
More information and eligibility criteria can be found here.
Looking for Work
There are numerous payments and support options available for those looking for work.
Find a lot of information about various options here.
If you would like support around navigating any systems, forms or information- please get in touch with us.
Also see more information about BAASS Advocacy here.
If we have missed options or you would like us to include something in particular, please email us.
NDIS
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is an agency responsible for delivering the National Insurance Agency Scheme: provision of funding support for people with "significant and permanent disability and their families and carers".
Introductory information about the NDIS can be found here.
Facebook Groups/Pages
Some available Facebook groups/pages relevant to NDIS. Please note this is not an endorsement, simply resources available.
- BAASS also has a Facebook group for those wanting to share or find information, support and experiences around the NDIS. You can read the group guidelines and join here.
- NDIS Grassroots Discussion group can be found here.
- NDIA Facebook page including 'Weekly Q and A' posts can be found here.
Helpful links
NDIS- NDIS Website 'About Us' page with links to different states and territories can be found here.
We are still working on adding more information and links relating to the NDIS on our website.
For information or support please get in touch!