Effective date

The date from which a change of circumstances affects a client’s entitlement to Carer Support is known as the ‘effective date’.

Carer Support regulations set out the rules for ‘effective dates’ – for when a change of circumstances during an ongoing award should be considered to affect a carer’s entitlement.

Carer Support is a weekly benefit, so the effective date of any change of circumstances will always be the first day of an award week. Carer Support award weeks run from Sunday to Saturday.

The effective date rules are different depending on whether the change of circumstances would lead to an increase in, or reinstatement of a Carer Support award or a decrease or end of an award.