media release

DATE 02/07/10

GOVERNMENT DELIVERS $600 BONUS TO CARERS IN BASS 

Labor Senator for Tasmania Senator Helen Polley today welcomed the Federal Government's announcement that from yesterday (1 July 2010) more than 2600 carers in Bass will receive a $600 Carer Supplement, as part of the Australian Government’s Secure and Sustainable Pension Reform.
 
Senator Polley said, "This payment recognises the significant challenges facing hundreds of thousands of carers who make enormous sacrifices to care for a loved one."
 
The annual $600 Supplement will be paid to people who receive:
 
·        Carer Payment;
·        both Wife Pension and Carer Allowance;
·        both Department of Veterans’ Affairs Partner Service Pension and Carer Allowance; and
·        Department of Veterans’ Affairs Carer Service pension.
 
In Bass more than 1100 Carer Supplement payments will be made to Carer Payment recipients and more than 2600 Carer Supplement payments will be made to Carer Allowance recipients.
 
Throughout Tasmania nearly 6000 Carer payments will be forwarded to Carer Payment recipients and more than 14000 Carer Allowance payments will be made.
 
If a person is in receipt of Carer Allowance and Carer Payment (or Wife Pension, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Pension or Carer Service pension) they will qualify for two Carer Supplement payments, with an additional payment for each extra person they care for.
 
Senator Polley said," Nearly two million carers are of workforce age and many have had to leave the workforce, reduce the hours they work, or work below their skill capacity because of their caring responsibility. I'm sure this announcement will be welcomed by the 2.6 million carers Australia wide."
 
Most Carer Supplement payments will be paid between Thursday 1 July and Wednesday 14 July.