Last Updated:
Wednesday, 27. August 2008

Child and Family Benefits In Australia

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Government Benefits

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The majority of new Migrants to Australia will have to wait a period totalling 104 weeks of residence before becoming eligible for most Government Benefits. 

However, there are a few that are available without this qualifying waiting period, and these do relate to Families with Children.

The main benefits that are available to new arrivals consist of:

Payments to help raise children

  • Family Tax Benefit Part A - for parents or carers to help with the cost of raising children.
  • Family Tax Benefit Part B - for single income families or sole parents.
  • Child Care Benefit - for families to help with the cost of child care.
  • Rent Assistance may also be paid, if you get more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A and pay rent privately.
  • Baby Bonus / Maternity Payment - This is a currently a one-off payment per child born, and is currently at the rate of $5,000 (payment rate effective from 1st July 2008). From January 1st 2009 this payment will become subject to an income test, and it will be paid fortnightly and NOT as a one off lump sum.
  • Maternity Immunisation Allowance - To help towards Immunisation Costs ($236.70 at 20th Mar 2008)
  • Most of these benefits are Income tested.

     

    Estimates of Family Tax Benefit can be checked at the Centrelink Online Services and selecting:

    Payment Enquiries
    1. Centrelink/Family Assistance Rate Estimator.
    2. Family Assistance/Child Support July 2008 Projected Estimator.

    Then under the "Estimate your entitlements" section, select:
        Estimate Family Assistance rates only

     

    Details are available at the CENTRELINK website and offices.  Call Centre telephone number is 13 1021 from in Australia only.

     

    Note: The following quote is from http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/factors/newly_arrived.htm as at 11th November 2004.

    Quote: For other benefits you will have to serve a waiting period if you have not been an Australian resident, and in Australia, for periods totalling 104 weeks. Periods spent in Australia as an Australian resident at any time in your life can be counted towards the waiting period.

    However: Age Pension and Disability Support Pension have qualifying residence requirements of ten years.

     

    Family Tax Benefit:

    Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part B will be limited to families where the primary earner has an adjusted taxable income of $150,000 or less, and the lower income earner is on less than $22,302 before they lose all entitlement if they have a child under five (or $17,356 if the youngest child is aged five to 18).  (Rates for 2008/2009)

    Example Family Tax Benefits March 2008

    • Family with 3 children between 5 and 13, Single gross income of $50,000 per year:

      Possible Family Assistance of $466.90 per fortnight or $12,139.40 per year.  (Up 27% in 2 years)
      This is made up of:
      Family Tax Benefit Part A $369.74 per fortnight.
      Family Tax Benefit Part B $87.08 per fortnight.
      Large Family Supplement $10.08 per fortnight.

    • Family with 3 children between 5 and 13, Joint Income of $75,000. One wage $50,000 2nd wage $25,000

      Possible Family Assistance of $188.02 per fortnight or $4,888.52 per year. (Up 41% in 2 years)
      This is made up of:
      Family Tax Benefit Part A $177.94 per fortnight.
      Large Family Supplement $10.08 per fortnight.

    • Family with one child under 5, Single gross income of $50,000 per year:

      Possible Family Assistance of $203.84 per fortnight or $5,299.84 per year. (Up 24% in 2 years)
      This is made up of:
      Family Tax Benefit Part A $78.82 per fortnight.
      Family Tax Benefit Part B $125.02 per fortnight.

    • Family with one child under 5, Joint Income of $75,000. One wage $50,000 2nd wage $25,000

      Possible Family Assistance of $46.90 per fortnight or $1,219.40 per year. (Up 6% in 2 years)
      This is made up of:
      Family Tax Benefit Part A $46.90 per fortnight.

    Child Care Benefit

    Family with two parents and 1 child between 5 and 13 years:

    2 parents, 1 works earning $50,000, the other doesn't work: 76% rebate of schedule fees.
    2 parents, 1 earns $50,000, the other $25,000: 41% rebate of schedule fees.
    2 parents, both earn $50,000 each: 16% rebate of schedule fees.

    Baby Bonus/Maternity Payment

    This is a one-off payment per child born, and is currently at the rate of $5,000 (payment rate effective from 1st July 2008).

    • From July 1st 2008, this payment is subject to an income test, meaning that no family with a household income exceeding $75,000, for the six months after date of birth, will be eligible for this bonus.
    • From January 1st 2009 it will be paid fortnightly and NOT as a one off lump sum.

 

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