Does autism level 2 qualify?
A level 2 diagnosis does not by itself tell you whether you will receive a payment. Check Carer Allowance and Carer Payment separately. Services Australia lists some recognised conditions in its child medical report for Carer Allowance. You still need to meet the other rules, including care, income and residence requirements.
Services Australia, carer claim information ↗Services Australia, Medical Report for a child under 16 years (SA431) ↗Services Australia, Who can get Carer Allowance ↗Services Australia, Carer Allowance rules for the person you care for ↗
Carer Payment has separate care, income and assets requirements. You generally need to provide constant care to someone who needs care for at least 6 months, and both of you must meet the eligibility rules.
Services Australia, Who can get Carer Payment ↗Services Australia, Income and assets test for Carer Payment ↗
Where ADHD fits
If your child also has ADHD, describe the care they need in the claim and medical report. Services Australia asks how you care for your child and uses medical information to assess eligibility. This is care assessment guidance, not a promise of a payment for an ADHD diagnosis.
Services Australia, Carer Allowance rules for the person you care for ↗Services Australia, Medical Report for a child under 16 years (SA431) ↗
Carer Allowance for autistic children
What it is
Carer Allowance is a fortnightly Centrelink payment for parents and carers who give extra daily care because of a child's disability or medical condition. It is paid to you as the carer, and it can be paid on top of your wages or another payment.
Social Security Guide 1.2.5.50, Carer Allowance description ↗Services Australia, How much Carer Allowance you can get ↗
Who can get it
You and your child both need to meet Australian residence rules. Your child must need your daily care and attention because of their disability, the care must be needed for at least 12 months, and for a child under 16 it is given in your home.
Social Security Guide 3.6.7.30, Qualification for Carer Allowance ↗Services Australia, Who can get Carer Allowance ↗Services Australia, Carer Allowance rules for the person you care for ↗
How an autism diagnosis affects eligibility
Autism spectrum disorder is on the Australian Government's List of Recognised Disabilities when a psychiatrist, developmental paediatrician, or registered psychologist experienced in assessing autism has diagnosed it using DSM-5. The List does not name a support level. For a child under 16 with a condition on the List, Centrelink treats the child as meeting the disability part of the rules, so the separate care needs questionnaire is not needed and no care rating is required. Only a child whose condition is not on the List is assessed through the questionnaire, and must reach a rating of intense. You still have to meet the other rules, including the income test and residence rules.
Department of Social Services, Guide to the List of Recognised Disabilities ↗Social Security Guide 1.1.R.90, Recognised disability (Carer Allowance, child) ↗Social Security Guide 1.2.5.50, Carer Allowance description ↗
Income test
There is no assets test, but there is an income test on your household. Your and your partner's combined adjusted taxable income must be under a set yearly limit, which Services Australia publishes on its eligibility page. Your child's own income is not tested.
Services Australia, Who can get Carer Allowance ↗Social Security Guide 3.6.7.30, Qualification for Carer Allowance ↗
Health Care Card
If you care for a child under 16, you also get a Health Care Card for them, which helps with the cost of medicines and health care. If your child's care needs are lower, you may not get Carer Allowance but may still get the Health Care Card.
Services Australia, Who can get Carer Allowance ↗Services Australia, Carer Allowance rules for the person you care for ↗Social Security Guide 1.2.5.50, Carer Allowance description ↗
How to claim
The easiest way to claim is online through your Centrelink online account, linked to myGov. Services Australia's claim guide walks you through the steps, and you can track the claim online or in the Express Plus Centrelink app. If you think a decision is wrong, you can ask for it to be reviewed.
Services Australia, How to claim Carer Allowance ↗Services Australia, Medical Report for a child under 16 years (SA431) ↗
When your child turns 16
Different rules apply once your child turns 16. Services Australia contacts you before your child's 16th birthday, and if you continue to provide care you need to transfer Carer Allowance from child to adult to keep your payment.
Services Australia, How to manage Carer Allowance ↗Services Australia, Transfer Carer Payment and Carer Allowance from child to adult ↗
Carer Payment: how it differs from Carer Allowance
What it is
Carer Payment is an income support payment for carers who cannot work full time because of the amount of care they give. Carer Allowance is an extra payment for daily care, while Carer Payment replaces income. Some families get both, and you can make one combined claim.
Social Security Guide 1.2.5.20, Carer Payment description ↗Services Australia, Carer Payment ↗
Who can get it
You need to give constant care, which Services Australia describes as roughly a normal working day, to someone who needs care for at least 6 months. You can still do up to 100 hours of paid work or self employment in a 4 week period.
How a child is assessed
The List of Recognised Disabilities is not used for Carer Payment. For a child under 16, Centrelink uses the Disability Care Load Assessment (Child), made up of a questionnaire you complete and one completed by a treating health professional. The child must reach a rating of intense. This intense rating applies to Carer Payment, and to Carer Allowance only for children whose condition is not on the List of Recognised Disabilities.
Department of Social Services, Guide to the List of Recognised Disabilities ↗Social Security Guide 1.1.D.170, Disability Care Load Assessment (Child) ↗
Income and assets tests
Carer Payment is income and assets tested, and your and your partner's income and assets can reduce the amount you get. Your child's family income and assets must also be under set limits, and the family home is not counted for that test. If you already get a payment such as Parenting Payment or JobSeeker Payment, it stops once Carer Payment is granted.
Services Australia, Income and assets test for Carer Payment ↗Social Security Guide 1.2.5.20, Carer Payment description ↗
Reviews
Centrelink may review your child's care needs, for example when they are 4 years and 8 months old and again at 13.
Evidence and forms for a Carer Allowance claim
Medical report
For a child under 16, a health professional who is currently treating your child completes the Medical Report form (SA431). This can include a medical practitioner, registered psychologist, speech pathologist or occupational therapist. The report on its own is not a claim. Sometimes Centrelink can use information it already holds, and it will tell you when you start your claim if a new report is needed.
Services Australia, Medical Report for a child under 16 years (SA431) ↗Services Australia, Carer Allowance rules for the person you care for ↗
Your part of the claim
During the claim you answer questions about how you care for your child. Centrelink shows which documents are required, and these need to be provided before you submit. Other supplementary documents can follow within 14 days.
Services Australia, Carer Allowance rules for the person you care for ↗Services Australia, Supporting documents for your Centrelink claim ↗
How Centrelink carer payments relate to the NDIS
Centrelink carer payments and the NDIS are separate systems, run by different agencies, and each has its own claim and evidence. NDIS plan funding pays for your child's disability supports. It is not income support, and NDIS amounts are exempt from Centrelink's income and assets tests.
Social Security Guide 1.1.N.03, NDIS amount ↗Services Australia, Carer Payment ↗
Current payment rates
We don't list dollar amounts because they are updated regularly, several times a year. Check the current rates on the official Services Australia pages:
Questions parents ask
Can I get Carer Allowance for my autistic child?
Possibly. If your child is under 16 and was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder under DSM-5 by a psychiatrist, developmental paediatrician or experienced registered psychologist, the diagnosis meets the disability part of the rules without a separate care assessment. You still need to give daily care at home, meet residence rules and pass the income test.
Department of Social Services, Guide to the List of Recognised Disabilities ↗Social Security Guide 1.1.R.90, Recognised disability (Carer Allowance, child) ↗Services Australia, Who can get Carer Allowance ↗
Does autism level 2 qualify for Carer Allowance?
For Carer Allowance (child), eligibility does not depend on the support level. The List of Recognised Disabilities names autism spectrum disorder diagnosed under DSM-5 by a qualified professional, without a level, so levels 1, 2 and 3 are treated the same. The income test and other rules still apply. Carer Payment is different: the List is not used, and your child's care needs are assessed instead.
Department of Social Services, Guide to the List of Recognised Disabilities ↗Social Security Guide 1.1.R.90, Recognised disability (Carer Allowance, child) ↗Social Security Guide 1.1.D.170, Disability Care Load Assessment (Child) ↗
How much is Carer Allowance?
Carer Allowance is a set fortnightly amount, and it is not taxable. Rates are updated regularly, so check the current amount on the Services Australia rates page linked below.
How much does a carer get from Centrelink?
It depends on which payment you get. Carer Allowance is a set rate, while Carer Payment depends on your income, assets and relationship status. Both are updated regularly, so use the official rates pages for current figures.
Services Australia, How much Carer Allowance you can get ↗Services Australia, How much Carer Payment you can get ↗
Can I work and still get Carer Allowance?
Yes. Carer Allowance can be paid on top of wages, as long as your household income stays under the income test limit. Carer Payment is different: it has a work limit of up to 100 hours of paid or self employed work in a 4 week period.
Services Australia, How much Carer Allowance you can get ↗Services Australia, Who can get Carer Payment ↗
This is general information, not advice about your situation. Check your own circumstances with Services Australia before you claim or make decisions.
Details checked October 2026
