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Frequently Asked Questions:
Are grandparents or carers eligible for family assistance?Yes, you may be eligible for family assistance if you are a grandparent or carer (whether or not you have gained legal responsibility for the child) and you have day to day care and responsibility for a child or children. However, grandparents will not generally be eligible for family assistance if the parent of the child/ren also lives in the same household. We understand that sometimes these arrangements are only temporary until the parents are again able to care for their children. [ return to top ] As a grandparent or carer what family assistance can I get for these children?Grandparents and other carers may be able to get Family Tax Benefit as well as Child Care Benefit. Family Tax Benefit Part A is the most common payment to help families with the cost of raising children. It is worked out on the family’s combined annual income and the ages and number of dependent children in the family. It is paid per child. Family Tax Benefit Part B gives extra assistance to families with one main income. It is based on the annual income of the lower earner as well as the age of the youngest child. It is paid per family. This payment can be made fortnightly, as a lump sum payment at the end of the financial year, as reduced tax instalments, or as a lump sum payment through the tax system as part of the annual tax return. Child Care Benefit helps with the cost of child care. It is available for children using approved or registered child care. Child Care Benefit for approved care can be claimed as either reduced child care fees or as a lump sum payment. Child Care Benefit for registered care is payable only for work, study or training related care, and can be claimed as a lump sum upon lodgement of the child care receipts with the Family Assistance Office. Child Care Benefit is only available through the Family Assistance Office. Grandparents may be eligible to access up to 50 hours of Child Care Benefit for each child in approved child care per week. The Child Care Benefit work, training and study test is waived for eligible grandparents who have primary care of their grandchildren. If you are an eligible grandparent who has primary care of your grandchildren and is in receipt of an income support payment, such as a pension from Centrelink, you may receive Grandparent Child Care Benefit. Grandparent Child Care Benefit will cover the full cost of child care for up to 50 hours per child, per week. Additional assistance may be available to assist with child care fees for families in exceptional cases who are experiencing short term financial hardship. Families should talk to their child care provider or the Family Assistance Office to see if they are able to access this assistance. In some cases you may also be eligible for one-off payments of Baby Bonus or Maternity Immunisation Allowance following the birth of a child. [ return to top ] Are there any eligibility requirements for family assistance?To get family assistance you will need to meet the eligibility requirements including: income tests, Australian residency status and have a dependent child. There are some differences to the way Family Tax Benefit is worked out when care of children is shared. You should speak with the Family Assistance Office about your own personal situation. You can also read the Are you a parent or guardian? booklet which is available from the publications section of the website or you can pick up a copy at your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre. [ return to top ] How do I claim family assistance?To claim family assistance you'll need to complete the appropriate claim form. You can get this claim form by visiting any Family Assistance Office or by calling 13 6150. The claim form should be completed and returned to the Family Assistance Office. If you already get Family Tax Benefit for a child, you can claim Child Care Benefit over the phone and you do not need to complete an additional claim form. [ return to top ] What happens after I've lodged a claim?Once you've lodged a claim for Family Tax Benefit or Child Care Benefit, a Family Assistance Office Customer Service Adviser will then assess your claim. They'll take into consideration, among other things, your income and whether the child is eligible for Family Tax Benefit. The payment of Family Tax Benefit may be shared with other carers in some circumstances, for example between two separated parents. You may receive some Family Tax Benefit as long as you have at least 35 per cent care of a child. If you share care of a child for at least 14 per cent of the time (two or more nights per fortnight), you may be eligible for Rent Assistance, a Health Care Card, Remote Area Allowance, Child Care Benefit and/or access to the lower threshold of the Medicare Safety Net. If the care of the child is in dispute, for example the previous carer (maybe a parent) states they are still caring for the child, evidence from both parties will need to be provided. You should talk with a Family Assistance Office Customer Service Adviser as to what sort of evidence you will need. Centrelink also has social workers available to help you with these matters. [ return to top ] Is a grandparent or carer entitled to a Health Care Card?If you're already receiving an income support payment such as Age Pension or Parenting Payment (Partnered) you'll already have a Pensioner Concession Card. If you're also eligible for Family Tax Benefit for the children in your care, the children can be added to this card and will then receive the benefits of the card, for example prescription medicines at the concessional rate. If you don't receive a pension or benefit but are eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A at the maximum rate, you'll automatically be issued with a Health Care Card which will include the children on the card. If you're not automatically entitled to a Health Care Card you may be entitled to a Low Income Health Care Card. For a claim form or more information please visit a Centrelink Customer Service Centre or call the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150. Another option is to claim a separate "Foster Child Health Care Card" for your grandchild. This card is available to grandparents who are caring for a child through either an informal arrangement (e.g. where family members have come to a private arrangement about who cares for the child), or formal care (e.g. where the care of the child is being managed by a state welfare authority). This card can be claimed by you, but is issued in the name of the grandchild. You do not have to meet an income or assets test to get this card. The Foster Child Health Care Card can be claimed through your local Family Assistance Office. Note: If you urgently require your concession card you should ask for an interim card to assist you until the actual card arrives. [ return to top ] If the child has a disability and requires extra care, is there any other assistance available for grandparents or carers?Yes. You may be able to get Carer Allowance if the child has a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability which is permanent or likely to continue for an extended period. If the child's disability does not qualify you for payment of Carer Allowance, you may be able to get a Carer Allowance Health Care Card. You can receive one of these if the child requires extra care and attention on a daily basis amounting to at least 14 hours per week. This extra care must be provided by you or your partner. You may also be able to get Carer Payment (child) in addition to Carer Allowance. Carer Payment is an income support payment for customers who are caring for a profoundly disabled child. In order to claim Carer Allowance and/or Carer Payment, you'll need to complete a "Claim for Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance - Caring for a child - under 16 years " form. A Treating Doctors Report will also need to be completed by the child's doctor. Carer Payment and Carer Allowance may also be paid to the carer of a young person aged 16 years and over, however different eligibility criteria apply. For more information or for a claim form please visit a Centrelink Customer Service Centre or call 13 2717. [ return to top ] What other assistance can grandparents or carers get for these children?You may also be able to get other Centrelink benefits such as Parenting Payment. Parenting Payment is an income support payment for customers caring for a dependent child aged under 16. Parenting Payment can be paid at the single or partnered rate, depending on your marital status. Parenting Payment is only payable to one member of a couple. An alternative income support payment such as Newstart Allowance may be payable to the other member of the couple. You may qualify for Parenting Payment, either as a parent, grandparent or foster carer, where you:
You may also be eligible for a Double Orphan Pension if the child meets the criteria of an orphan. For example, a Double Orphan Pension may be paid in any of these situations where:
Youth Allowance may be available for a young person from the age of 16, or from the age of 15 if the young person is considered independent and above the school leaving age in their state or territory. Further information about Youth Allowance is available from the Youth Allowance contact line on 13 2490, from a Centrelink Customer Service Centre or from the Centrelink website. Indigenous young people in full-time study may receive assistance under ABSTUDY. This scheme offers a Living Allowance that is similar to Youth Allowance as well as additional assistance to support study. Further information about ABSTUDY is available from the ABSTUDY contact line on 13 2317. You can also read the Are you a parent or guardian? booklet which is available from the publications page of our website or you can pick up a copy at your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre. If you're facing financial difficulties, you should talk to a Centrelink Financial Information Service Officer. They can give you more information on financial issues. [ return to top ] Is there any assistance available to grandparents and carers if someone dies?Yes. Depending on your individual circumstances grandparents and carers may be eligible for assistance if someone dies. You should contact the Family Assistance Office by calling 13 6150 or visit a Centrelink Customer Service Centre. You may also find it helpful to talk to a Centrelink Social Worker. You can arrange to see a social worker, or get more information by calling the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150. You can also read 'Are you needing help after someone has died?' booklet which is available at Centrelink Customer Service Centres or from the publications page of our website. Centrelink has a range of services for people needing help after someone dies. [ return to top ] Can grandparents or carers get help from anywhere else?If you are a grandparent or carer and have children living with you, you may also be eligible for child support. The children in your care need to be under 18 and living with you. To find out how to apply for child support you should contact the Child Support Agency by calling 13 1272. Some state government agencies may provide payments to grandparents or carers. This can occur where the child is placed in care as a result of state or territory intervention of some kind. Grandparents or carers who are caring for their grandchildren should contact their state government for more information. Support groups for grandparents and carers:
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