Special Disability Allowance

A Special Disability Allowance is paid to the partner of a client who is receiving the hospital rate or Residential Care Subsidy. It is paid to the person not in hospital or residential care to help with the extra costs of their partner's hospitalisation, for example travel costs to visit the patient.

Note that Special Disability Allowance is:

• granted without the client having to apply
• paid separately from Disability Allowance and
• not income or asset tested

Special Disability Allowance can start from the date the client in the community starts receiving a single rate of benefit, and their partner starts receiving a hospital rate of benefit or becomes financially eligible for Residential Care Subsidy.

For more information see:

• Deskfile Special Disability Allowance rates

Special Disability Allowance should be stopped from the first available date if the person receiving it is also admitted to hospital.