If you are a Caregiver
Support information about being a Caregiver
It’s important to know that you have support available if you:
- care for someone over the age of 65
- care for your grandchildren full-time
- have other children in your full-time care.
Financial assistance for caregivers
Caring for others can be stressful and difficult, and you may wish to access resources to help with the responsibility. There are options available, financial and otherwise.
The links below will take you to further information on the Work and Income website.
Kinship caregivers and caring for grandchildren
If someone else’s children, or your own grandchildren, are in your care, you may qualify for financial support to assist with their upbringing.
The type of financial support available to you will depend on your personal circumstances and those of the children you are caring for.
The available support does not apply to your own dependant children, and is not available to professional caregivers/childcare organisations.
You may find it useful to download a copy of our Guide for Caregivers who are raising someone else’s child.
Special Needs Grant
If you have an emergency financial deadline or need to pay for something urgently and have no other means to pay for it, you may qualify for a Special Needs Grant.
Examples of such emergency costs are:
- emergency medical or dental treatment
- buying food
- paying for power and gas
- travel costs to attend a family member’s funeral
- funeral costs of someone close to you.
