Double Orphan Pension

What Is This Payment?

The Double Orphan Pension supports carers who take on a child who has, in practical terms, lost the support of both parents. It is not limited to children whose parents have both died: it also covers situations where one parent has died and the other is unable to care for the child — for example because they are in prison, in a psychiatric hospital, missing, or have a long-term illness.

The rule database tags it as a Group A monetary benefit with monetary_primary as its result role, inside the Federal Families cluster. It is a fixed fortnightly amount per child, paid to the carer.

Crucially, it is not income tested, so a working carer or a grandparent on a comfortable income receives the same amount as a low-income carer. It can be paid alongside Family Tax Benefit and other family assistance for the same child.

How Much Can You Get?

The amount block is fixed with a fortnightly period and a value of $92.80 per fortnight per child — about $2,413 a year.

• $92.80 per fortnight per eligible child, so caring for two orphaned children means two payments.
• Not income tested — the amount does not reduce because you have other income.
• Paid on top of other family assistance — it can be received alongside Family Tax Benefit for the same child.

Eligibility Conditions

The eligibility block is an all set.

1. A child in your care: dependent_children = true. You are caring for a dependent child.
2. The child is effectively an orphan: is_double_orphan_carer = true. Both parents have died, or one has died and the other cannot care for the child (in prison, a psychiatric institution, missing, or with a long-term illness).

The payment is for the carer of the child, not the child directly, and is made for each eligible child in your care. You provide proof of care and proof of the orphan circumstances. There is no income or assets test.

Required fields are dependent_children and is_double_orphan_carer. The product surfaces the Double Orphan Pension because it is easily missed — carers often do not realise that a single parent's death combined with the other parent's inability to care can qualify the child, not only the death of both parents.

How To Apply

The channel is online through Services Australia, with proof of care and proof of the orphan status. You claim for each eligible child in your care.

• Gather evidence of the child's situation (the death, and where relevant the other parent's inability to care).
• Lodge a claim with Services Australia for each eligible child.
• Claim Family Tax Benefit as well if you are eligible — the two can be paid together.

Read the official Double Orphan Pension guidance

Rule-Based Scenarios

Scenario 1: grandparent raising a grandchild

A grandmother raises her grandchild after both parents have died. She receives the Double Orphan Pension of $92.80 per fortnight for the child, on top of any Family Tax Benefit, regardless of her own income.

Scenario 2: one parent died, the other cannot care

A child's mother has died and the father is in prison and cannot care for the child. The carer qualifies, because the rule covers one parent's death plus the other's inability to care.

Scenario 3: two children, two payments

A carer looking after two orphaned siblings receives $92.80 per fortnight for each child.

Scenario 4: working carer

A carer who works full time receives the full Double Orphan Pension, because it is not income tested.

Common Mistakes

• Thinking both parents must have died: the payment also covers one parent's death where the other cannot care for the child (prison, psychiatric institution, missing, or long-term illness).
• Assuming income disqualifies you: the Double Orphan Pension is not income tested — a working or higher-income carer gets the same amount.
• Claiming only one payment for siblings: the pension is paid per eligible child, so multiple orphaned children mean multiple payments.
• Not also claiming Family Tax Benefit: the two can be paid together for the same child.
• Missing it entirely: many carers do not know the payment exists or that their situation qualifies.
• Confusing it with the DVA Orphan's Pension: this is the Centrelink payment for carers of orphaned children generally; the DVA Orphan's Pension is for children of deceased veterans.

Related Benefits

• Family Tax Benefit Part A — family assistance that can be paid alongside this pension.
• DVA Orphan's Pension — the equivalent for children of deceased veterans.
• Transition to Independent Living Allowance — help for young people leaving formal care.
• Foster Child Health Care Card — cheaper medicines for a child in your care.
• Carer Allowance — a supplement for carers of a child with a disability or illness.
• Health Care Card — concession access for cheaper medicines and services.

Frequently Asked Questions