Support
Australia
Financial assistance for families
Explore financial assistance available to Australian families caring for a child with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Learn about carer payments, medication subsidies, Medicare Safety Nets, travel assistance, government benefits and support services that may help reduce the financial burden.
Caring for a child with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can bring extra expenses that families may not always expect. Between specialist appointments, medications, travel to hospital, time away from work and everyday care, the financial pressure can add up.
The good news is that there are several forms of financial assistance and practical support available to Australian families. Eligibility depends on your circumstances, your child’s care needs and the type of expense involved.
💰 What financial support is available?
There is no single payment specifically for every family affected by paediatric IBD.
However, you may be eligible for assistance through government payments, Medicare, subsidised medicines, travel schemes or hospital support services.
It is worth checking several options rather than assuming you will not qualify.
👨👩👧 Carer Allowance
Carer Allowance is a fortnightly payment from Services Australia for people who provide daily care and attention to someone with a disability or medical condition.
Parents of children with IBD may wish to investigate eligibility, particularly if their child needs significant ongoing care and assistance with everyday activities.
Eligibility is not automatic for children with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Services Australia assesses the care required, the relevant medical criteria, income and residency requirements.
Find out more or check the eligibility requirements through Services Australia – Carer Allowance.
🏡 Carer Payment
Carer Payment provides income support to eligible people who provide constant care to someone with a disability or medical condition.
It may be relevant if caring responsibilities significantly limit your ability to work. However, strict eligibility rules apply, including requirements relating to the level of care provided and income and assets.
Carer Payment and Carer Allowance can sometimes be received together, depending on your circumstances.
Read more at Services Australia – Carer Payment.
🧾 Family Tax Benefit and other payments
Depending on your family’s circumstances, you may qualify for other government assistance, including:
Family Tax Benefit: help with the cost of raising children.
Child Care Subsidy: assistance with eligible child care costs.
Health Care Card: access to certain concessions, depending on eligibility.
Carer Supplement and Child Disability Assistance Payment: additional payments for eligible recipients of certain carer payments.
These payments have different eligibility rules. Having a child with IBD does not automatically qualify your family, so check your circumstances with Services Australia.
Visit Services Australia to explore payments and concessions.
💊 Help with medication costs
Prescription medicines can be an ongoing expense for children with IBD. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises many medicines, reducing the amount eligible patients pay.
If your child takes several PBS medicines, the PBS Safety Net may help reduce your family’s prescription costs once you reach the annual threshold.
For 2026, the PBS Safety Net thresholds are:
General patients: $1,748.20 in eligible medicine costs.
Concession card holders: $277.20 in eligible medicine costs.
Eligible family members can combine their PBS medicine spending. Keep track of prescriptions and ask your pharmacist how to record your family’s spending. Once you reach the applicable threshold, you may be entitled to cheaper medicines for the rest of the calendar year.
Some specialist treatments have additional eligibility requirements, and not every medicine is subsidised.
Learn more at Services Australia – PBS Safety Net.
🩺 Help with specialist appointments and medical costs
Frequent specialist appointments, tests and other out-of-hospital medical services can create significant out-of-pocket expenses.
The Medicare Safety Nets may help eligible families receive higher Medicare benefits once their annual gap or out-of-pocket expenses reach a threshold.
For 2026, the Extended Medicare Safety Net threshold is:
$861.20 for eligible concession card holders and families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A.
$2,699.10 for other eligible individuals and families.
The amount you receive back depends on the service and applicable benefit limits. Not every healthcare expense counts towards the thresholds.
Families should also register their eligible family members with Medicare for the relevant family safety-net arrangements.
Find out more at Services Australia – Medicare Safety Nets.
🚗 Financial assistance for travel to hospital
Some children need to travel long distances to see a paediatric gastroenterologist or attend a specialist hospital. Travel, accommodation, meals and parking can become a substantial expense.
Every Australian state and territory has a patient travel assistance scheme that may help eligible families with some travel and accommodation costs when specialist treatment is not available locally.
Examples include:
NSW: Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS).
Queensland: Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS).
Victoria: Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS).
South Australia: Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS).
The schemes have different distance requirements, payment arrangements and eligibility criteria. Some require approval or an application before travel, so check the rules before making arrangements.
You can find an overview of the schemes through healthdirect – Financial support during long-term illness.
🏥 Ask your hospital about financial support
If your child attends a public children’s hospital, ask whether a social worker or hospital support service can help you explore financial assistance.
Hospital social workers may be able to explain relevant government payments, travel assistance, accommodation options and community organisations that support families during treatment.
You can ask for help even if you are unsure whether you qualify for a particular payment.
🤝 Support from charities and community organisations
Some charities and community organisations provide practical support, information or assistance to families managing a child’s chronic illness.
Crohn’s & Colitis Australia offers information and support for people living with IBD and their families. You can contact the organisation to ask about current programs, family support and resources.
Visit Crohn’s & Colitis Australia to explore the support available.
You can also ask your hospital team whether there are local family support services or assistance programs relevant to your circumstances.
📋 Practical ways to manage extra expenses
A few simple steps can help you understand your costs and identify support you may be eligible for.
Keep receipts and records: Track prescriptions, medical appointments, travel and accommodation expenses.
Check eligibility early: Some payments and travel schemes have specific requirements or application deadlines.
Ask about costs before appointments: Find out whether there will be out-of-pocket fees and whether Medicare rebates apply.
Keep medical documents together: Reports and letters from your child’s specialist may be needed for applications.
Speak up if money is becoming difficult: Tell your child’s treating team if costs are affecting your ability to attend appointments or obtain treatment.
💙 You don’t have to work it all out alone
Managing a child’s IBD can be demanding, and financial pressure can add another layer of stress. You may not qualify for every payment, but it is worth checking the available options and asking for help when you need it.
Your child’s hospital team, social worker, pharmacist and relevant government services can help you understand what support may be available to your family.
🔗 Where to find more information
Services Australia — government payments, carer support and concession cards.
Medicare Safety Nets — help with eligible out-of-hospital medical expenses.
PBS Safety Net — assistance with eligible prescription medicine costs.
healthdirect — information about financial support and patient travel schemes.
This article provides general information for Australian families. Eligibility, payment amounts and program rules can change. Check the relevant organisation’s current requirements before applying.
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