Use this guide alongside the official service
Read the steps here first and keep the relevant documents or questions ready. Outside websites open in a new tab, so this guide stays here. To continue, return to the Pension Path tab or close the new tab.
If online steps are difficult, find phone, paper or in-person help.
If you care for someone
Carer Payment and Carer Allowance have different purposes and eligibility rules. Neither follows automatically because you are a family member or receive Age Pension.
If you receive Carer Payment and approach pension age, compare your choices with Services Australia. Care reviews, work, study, respite, travel and supplements can differ. Age Pension itself does not retain Carer Supplement, although eligible Carer Allowance may continue separately.
Carer Gateway offers practical support services for carers. Ask its service about the support available and how to access it; it is separate from claiming a Centrelink payment.
If you need help at home or residential care
My Aged Care is the official entry point for aged care assessment. Its age and care-need rules differ from Age Pension; earlier routes exist for specified circumstances.
Use the official application or call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Ask about assessment, interpreter assistance and how a chosen supporter can help with permission.
Aged Care Path offers an independent companion guide to care navigation. Pension Path does not conduct care assessments or approve care funding.
Pension questions still need Centrelink
A partner entering care can change pension and home assessment. Illness separation differs from a relationship ending, and single payment rates can still use combined couple means tests.
Keep care decisions and accommodation evidence. Contact Centrelink about the payment effects rather than assuming a care assessment updates every financial record.
Your next steps
- Identify whether you need a payment, practical carer support, a care assessment or advocacy.
- Contact the relevant service and explain your care, accessibility and household situation.
- Check payment and home consequences separately.
- Keep decisions and requested follow-up tasks.
Independent help
OPAN provides aged care advocacy for people receiving or seeking eligible aged care support. Disability advocacy and NDIS routes have their own conditions; a new NDIS application generally has an under-65 age requirement, while existing participation has different rules.
Ask the administering service about the correct route. Phone and supported assessment options help people who cannot manage online steps.
Your next-step checklist
For your own notes. Ticks do not submit a claim or notify an agency.
Print or write down your steps if you prefer.
Official sources for this page
Guidance reviewed 5 October 2026. Source checks and content reviews are different: a successful download does not confirm that every rule is unchanged.
- Choosing between Carer Payment and Age Pension (opens in a new tab)Services Australia · Content checked 5 October 2026Automated retrieval 5 October 2026. This is not an editorial review.
- Carer Gateway (opens in a new tab)Carer Gateway · Content checked 5 October 2026Automated retrieval 5 October 2026. This is not an editorial review.
- Apply for an aged care assessment (opens in a new tab)My Aged Care · Content checked 5 October 2026Automated retrieval 5 October 2026. This is not an editorial review.
- Should I apply for aged care? (opens in a new tab)My Aged Care · Content checked 5 October 2026Automated retrieval 5 October 2026. This is not an editorial review.
- Contact aged care advocacy (opens in a new tab)Older Persons Advocacy Network · Content checked 5 October 2026Automated retrieval 5 October 2026. This is not an editorial review.
- Aged Care Path (opens in a new tab)Aged Care Path · Content checked 5 October 2026Automated retrieval 5 October 2026. This is not an editorial review.
- Illness-separated couples (opens in a new tab)Department of Social Services · Content checked 5 October 2026Automated retrieval unavailable; last attempted 5 October 2026. The editorial date above has not advanced.
- NDIS age requirements (opens in a new tab)National Disability Insurance Agency · Content checked 5 October 2026Automated retrieval unavailable; last attempted 5 October 2026. The editorial date above has not advanced.
- National Disability Advocacy Program (opens in a new tab)Australian Government Department of Health · Content checked 5 October 2026Automated retrieval 5 October 2026. This is not an editorial review.
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