CAPS - Payment
- How much is the CAPS payment?
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The CAPS Payment for 2011-12 is up to $506.30 and is indexed annually.
- How often will the payment be made?
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Applicants can choose one annual payment in July, or biannual payments in July and January each year. Medicare will continue to make the payment to a client's bank account annually/biannually unless notified otherwise. Clients are expected to use CAPS funds to purchase continence products.
- What if I am a new CAPS Applicant?
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In the first year of participation in the scheme, the amount of money CAPS Clients will receive is determined on a 365 day pro-rata basis, calculated from the day your application is processed. (The financial year runs from 1 July - 30 June).
For example, if John Smith's application is processed on 1 September, 62 days have already passed into the financial year (31 days in July and 31 days in August), so he will receive payment for the remaining 303 days (365 - 62).
- John's payment for the first year will be calculated as follows:
($506.30 / 365) x 303 = $420.29
From 1 July in the year after joining, eligible CAPS clients will receive the full CAPS payment (in one or two transactions).
- John's payment for the first year will be calculated as follows:
- What happens if a client uses all of the payment?
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The CAPS contribution (paid once or twice per annum) is a one-off amount to assist with some of the costs associated with permanent and severe incontinence. No additional funds will be provided under the Scheme.
Clients can contact the National Continence Helpline (1800 330 066) for information about their local state or territory scheme.
- Will clients need to produce receipts for their payment?
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As CAPS is not a reimbursement scheme clients are not required to produce receipts.
- Will the CAPS payment affect a client's income?
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No. An Income Tax exemption has been granted for the CAPS. This means that the CAPS payment will be excluded from any calculation of income.
The CAPS will also be excluded from the calculation of income for low level residential care in an Australian Government aged care facility, or any Centrelink calculations.
- Will clients receive a record of their payments?
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Yes, from 1 July 2010 Medicare will issue statements to CAPS clients, once payment(s) have been made.
- Can a client nominate to have a payment made directly into a representative's bank account?
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Yes, a client can nominate to have the payment made directly to a guardian's account, although certified documentary evidence of the legal relationship will be required by Medicare. See the CAPS application form for details.
A custodial parent can nominate a bank account in their name for a CAPS client (child) who is under 14 years of age. The parent's bank account can be provided for a child aged between 14 and 17 years of age if the child does not have the capacity to act on their own behalf.
- Who can receive the payment?
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CAPS payments can be made to one of the following:
- The applicant;
- A parent, if the applicant is under 14 years of age, or the applicant is at least 14 years but has not turned 18 years of age and does not have the capacity to act on their own behalf. Note: Unless contrary information is provided, the custodial parent of an applicant under 14 is to receive the payment on the applicant's behalf;
- A legal representative, including a person nominated under a Power of Attorney, an appointed legal guardian or a Public Trustee, with authority to receive payments on the applicant's behalf;
- An applicant's Centrelink Payment Nominee, as recognised by Centrelink for the purposes of the Social Security Law;
- A DVA Trustee, as recognised by DVA for the purposes of veterans' entitlements law;
- A DVA Agent as recognised by DVA for the purposes of veterans' entitlements law;
- A responsible person who has been approved by the Secretary of the Department, in writing, to receive a CAPS payment on an applicant's behalf; or
- An organisation (other than a legal representative) that agrees to assist with the purchase of their continence products.
- Can a client nominate to have a payment made directly to an organisation of their choice?
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Yes, a client can nominate to have the payment made directly to a nominated organisation, who will assist them in for purchasing their continence products.
