Examples of couples with other income
The rates of benefit payable in the following two examples are the rates as at 1 April 2026.
Example 1
Married couple (no children), one partner is working full-time the other partner is providing full-time care for an aged or sick person. The couple's income is $750.00 gross per week.
Income deduction 35 cents for every $1.00 earned over $13,000 per year
$750.00 gross per week | ||
less | $250.00 ($13,000 ÷ 52 weeks) | |
$500.00 x 35 cents = | $175.00 income deduction |
Income deduction 15 cents for every $1.00 earned over $8,320 per year but less than $13,000 per year
$250.00 gross per week | ||||
less | $160.00 ($8,320 ÷ 52 weeks) | |||
$90.00 x 15 cents = | $13.50 income deduction | |||
plus | $175.00 (from above) | |||
Total income deduction | $188.50 | |||
client | partner | |||
maximum benefit payable (as at 1 April 2026) | $360.72 | $360.72 | ||
less income deduction | $188.50 | $188.50 | ||
Benefit payable | $172.22 plus | $172.22 equals = $344.44 | ||
As $344.44 is less than the maximum rate of Emergency Benefit generally paid to care for an aged or sick person, you pay the client $344.44.
Example 2
Civil union couple (no children), one partner is working full-time, the other partner is providing full-time care for an aged or sick person. The couple's income is $370.00 gross per week.
Income deduction 35 cents for every $1.00 earned over $13,000 per year
$370.00 gross per week | ||
Less | $250.00 (13,000 ÷ 52 weeks) | |
$120.00 x 35 cents = | $42.00 deduction |
Income deduction 15 cents for every $1.00 earned over $8,320 per year but less than $13,000 per year
$250.00 gross per week | ||||
Less | $160.00 ($8,320 ÷ 52 weeks) | |||
$90.00 x 15 cents = | $13.50 deduction | |||
Plus | $42.00 (deduction from above table) | |||
Total income deduction | $55.50 | |||
client | partner | |||
maximum benefit payable (as at 1 April 2026) | $360.72 | $360.72 | ||
less income deduction | $55.50 | $55.50 | ||
Benefit payable | $305.22 plus | $305.22 equals $610.44 | ||
As $610.44 is greater than the maximum rate of Emergency Benefit generally paid to care for an aged or sick person as at 1 April 2026, you pay the client $360.72 (the maximum rate payable under the schedule).
