Carer Payments and the NDIS
Carer Payment and Carer Allowance are Centrelink payments separate from NDIS funding. How they can coexist, and why the NDIS funds supports, not carer income.
A common and completely understandable question: 'Does the NDIS pay me for caring?' The short answer is no — but that doesn't mean there's no financial help available. Carer payments come from a different system entirely. This guide untangles the two, explaining what Carer Payment and Carer Allowance are, how they can sit alongside an NDIS plan, and why the NDIS funds the participant's supports…
Two different systems
Carer Payment
Carer Allowance
How they coexist with the NDIS
The NDIS funds supports, not carer income
Frequently asked questions
Does the NDIS pay me to care for my family member?
No. The NDIS funds the participant's disability supports, not an income for carers. Payments for carers come from Centrelink through Carer Payment and Carer Allowance. The NDIS may fund paid support workers, therapy or respite for the participant, but not a wage for you as their carer.
Can I get carer payments and my child still have an NDIS plan?
Yes. They're separate systems on parallel tracks. Your child can have an NDIS plan funding their supports while you separately receive Carer Payment or Carer Allowance if you're eligible. Centrelink assesses the carer payments; the NDIA handles the plan.
What's the difference between Carer Payment and Carer Allowance?
Carer Payment is income support for carers whose role limits their paid work, and it's means-tested. Carer Allowance is a smaller supplement for the extra costs of caring, with different tests. You may qualify for one, both or neither — Centrelink assesses each separately.
Will paid NDIS supports affect my carer payment?
They can, because Carer Payment considers your caring role and is means-tested. If paid supports significantly reduce your hands-on care, it's worth checking with Centrelink how that affects eligibility. This is a Services Australia question, not something the NDIA decides.
Can a family member be paid as a support worker through the plan?
Only in limited, specific circumstances. As a general rule the NDIS doesn't fund family members to be paid supports, and never pays a carer simply for caring. If your caring role is unsustainable, raise it at planning to explore funded supports like respite or workers.