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Clothing Allowance for Orphans and Unsupported Children : Contents

Hospitalisation of caregiver or child

If the caregiver or the child (that Orphans Benefit or Unsupported Childs Benefit, and Clothing Allowance for Orphans and Unsupported Children is paid for) is admitted to hospital there is no change to the rate of payment.

While the caregiver or child is in hospital you will need to ensure that the child continues to meet the definition of dependent child and the caregiver continues to be the principal caregiver or principal temporary caregiver.

When a child is admitted to hospital (depending on the nature of the child's injury, illness or disability) the caregiver may be able to receive Child Disability Allowance.

Child Disability Allowance is a non-taxable allowance paid to the principal caregiver of a child with a serious disability, who is in need of constant care and attention for a period longer than 12 months.

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The principal caregiver is the person who has the permanent primary responsibility for the day-to-day care of the child, other than on a temporary basis. It does not include proprietors or employees of any childcare home or institution.

For Orphans Benefit or Unsupported Childs Benefit, the principal temporary caregiver is the person who has the primary responsibility for the day-to-day care of the child for a short-term, unknown, or uncertain period, and is not the natural or adoptive parent of the child.