The Law Handbook 2024

330 Section 5: Managing your money no payment can be made for days overseas in excess of six weeks. If the FTB recipient or FTB child remain overseas for more than 13 weeks, the FTB is cancelled. FTB can be paid as a fortnightly payment or as a lump sum paid at the end of the financial year. For recipients claiming FTB as a lump sum, the claimant needs to lodge their claim within 12 months after the end of the relevant financial year, and also lodge their income tax return within that same period (or tell Centrelink that they are not required to lodge a tax return). Only one member of a couple caring for a FTB child can be paid the FTB. If the parents are separated, FTB can be divided between both parents depending on the proportion of care each provides for the child. However, if the level of care provided is less than 35 per cent, the child is not taken to be a FTB child of that care provider. To receive more than the base rate of FTB(A) for children of a previous relationship, reasonable action to obtain child support must be taken. Rent Assistance can be paid to a FTB(A) recipient if they receive more than the base rate. A FTB(A) recipient may also be eligible for the Newborn Upfront Payment, the Newborn Supplement, Parental Leave Pay, Dad and Partner Pay, the Parenting Payment, and the Child Care Subsidy if they meet the eligibility criteria. Rate of assistance The rate of payment (s 58, sch 1 Family Assistance Act) depends on the child’s age. The maximum rate of FTB(A) per fortnight is: • aged 0–12 years: $213.36; • aged 13–19 years: $277.48; • aged 0–19 years, in an approved care organisation: $68.46. The maximum rate of FTB(B) per family, per fortnight is: • youngest child aged under five years: $181.44; • youngest child aged 5–18 years: $126.56. If a person gets FTB(A), they may also get the FTB(A) end-of-year supplement for each eligible child at the end of the financial year. The FTB(A) supplement is subject to an income test based on an adjusted taxable income. Since 1 July 2017, the supplement has been paid to eligible recipients if: • their tax return information for a financial year is provided within 12 months of the end of the financial year; and • they meet the income test: the family’s adjusted taxable income is $80 000 or less; and • the child meets immunisation and health check requirements. If a person gets FTB(B), they may also get the FTB(B) end-of-year supplement at the end of the financial year. To be eligible for the end-of-year supplement, a person and their partner must lodge an income tax return – or tell Centrelink that they are not required to lodge an income tax return – within 12 months after the end of the financial year. FTB(B) includes the energy supplement, which is payable after the end of the financial year to FTB recipients who have been continuously receiving the supplement since 19 September 2016. (See also A Guide to Australian Government Payments for more information about the Family Tax Benefit.) Bonuses Baby Bonus The Baby Bonus has been replaced with the Newborn Supplement and Newborn Upfront Payment. Newborn Supplement and Newborn Upfront Payment The Newborn Supplement ( NBS ) is paid as a temporary increase to FTB(A) for up to 13 weeks to help with the costs of: • a newborn child; or • a child under the age of one who becomes entrusted to the care of a non-parent carer; or • a child of any age who becomes entrusted to an individual’s care through the process of adoption (sch 1 s 35A Family Assistance Act). Applicants must be eligible for FTB(A). Entitlement to the NBS is assessed as part of a claim for FTB(A). Families receiving FTB(A) are automatically assessed for eligibility for the NBS. The NBS is not payable to people who access Parental Leave Pay for the same child, except in cases of multiple births (e.g. twins or triplets).