Seriously disabled or ill caregivers

OSCAR Subsidy may be paid for up to 20 hours a week in term time or 50 hours a week in the school holidays if the qualifications are met (but not the additional qualifications) and the principal caregiver of a dependent child:

• has an illness or disability that reduces their independent function and
• that illness or disability is expected to continue for at least 6 months and
• that illness or disability is so serious they need additional childcare for more than 3 hours a week and
• at least 1 of the following applies:
  • the principal caregiver does not have a partner or there is a good and sufficient reason why the partner cannot provide childcare (e.g. they are employed) or
  • the child qualifies for Child Disability Allowance

This includes a principal temporary caregiver of a child for whom Orphans Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit is paid.

The client does not need to have been getting OSCAR Subsidy prior to becoming seriously ill or disabled.

OSCAR Subsidy will stop when the child is no longer an eligible child. That is when whichever event below happens first:

• the child turns 14 and Child Disability Allowance is not paid for them or
• Child Disability Allowance is paid for the child, and the child:
  • turns 18 and is not continuing in education or is not financially dependent or
  • is 18 and:
    • is no longer enrolled in school or tertiary education or
    • is no longer attending school or tertiary education as required or
    • is financially independent or
    • they leave the parent or caregiver's care or
    • it is later than 31 December of the year they turned 18 or
• the caregiver no longer requires childcare for their child or
• the qualifications are no longer met

Caregivers getting Supported Living Payment - health condition, injury or disability and some caregivers getting Jobseeker Support - health condition, injury or disability, will already have sufficient medical evidence to indicate that the caregiver has a serious disability or illness.

Points to note when considering a medical certificate already held for another benefit are whether the health condition, injury or disability is:

• likely to continue for at least 6 months and
• so serious as to warrant additional childcare

If sufficient medical evidence is not already available, a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner must certify the caregiver meets the above requirements.

The cost of a medical examination is to be covered by the client.