Frequently asked questions for grandparents and carers

Family assistance eligibility for grandparents or carers

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.

Grandparents are not generally eligible for family assistance if the parent of the child or children also lives in the same household. However, we understand that sometimes these arrangements are only temporary until the parents are again able to care for their children.

Family assistance available for grandparents or carers

Grandparents and other carers may be able to get Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Benefit.

Family Tax Benefit Part A helps you with the cost of raising children.

Family Tax Benefit Part B is an extra payment for single parents and families with one main income to help with the costs of raising children. Part B is limited to families where the primary earner has an adjusted taxable income of $150,000 or less per financial year.

Family Tax Benefit can be paid fortnightly or as a lump sum payment at the end of the financial year.

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 a lump sum. Child Care Benefit for registered care is claimed as a lump sum after lodging receipts with the Family Assistance Office.

If you receive Child Care Benefit for approved care, you may be eligible to receive the Child Care Rebate. The rebate covers some of your out-of-pocket expenses for approved child care, up to a maximum amount per child per year.

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. This 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 Baby Bonus or Maternity Immunisation Allowance.

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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 can speak with the Family Assistance Office about your own personal situation.

More information

• Are you a parent or guardian? booklet

How to claim family assistance

To claim family assistance, you can claim online or lodge the appropriate form with the Family Assistance Office.

If you already get Family Tax Benefit for a child, you can claim Child Care Benefit over the phone by calling the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150. You do not need to complete a new claim form.

More information

• Claim forms for parents and guardians

What happens after lodging a claim?

Once you've lodged a claim for Family Tax Benefit or Child Care Benefit, a Centrelink Customer Service Adviser will assess your claim. They'll consider, 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 2 separated parents. You may receive some Family Tax Benefit as long as you have at least 35% care of a child. If you share care of a child for at least 14% of the time (2 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 Centrelink Customer Service Adviser as to what sort of evidence you will need. Centrelink also has social workers available to help you with these matters.

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Health Care Card entitlement for grandparents or carers

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 phone 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 can ask for an interim card to assist you until the actual card arrives.

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Other assistance available for grandparents or carers if the child has a disability and requires extra care

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 1 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 in addition to Carer Allowance. Carer Payment is an income support payment for customers who are caring for a profoundly disabled child.

Carer Allowance (caring for a person over 16 years) and Carer Payment (caring for a person over 16 years) 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 us on 13 2717.

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Other assistance for grandparents or carers

You may also be eligible for 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 relationship status. Parenting Payment is only payable to 1 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, if you:

• have income below a certain amount
• satisfy the residence requirements
• have at least 1 child aged under 16 who is wholly or substantially in your care and who is in Australia (or temporarily outside Australia for less than 13 weeks).

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:

• both parents are deceased
• 1 parent of the child is deceased and the other is serving a prison sentence of at least 10 years, or is indefinitely residing in a psychiatric hospital or similar institution, or is residing in a nursing home or similar institution indefinitely, or whose location is unknown
• the child is a refugee who has not lived in Australia previously and both parents are outside Australia or their location is unknown.

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 is available from the Youth Allowance contact line on 13 2490 or a Centrelink Customer Service Centre.

Indigenous young people in full-time study may receive assistance under ABSTUDY. This scheme offers a Living Allowance and additional assistance to support study. Further information is available from the ABSTUDY contact line on 13 2317 or a Centrelink Customer Service Centre.

You can also read the Are you a parent or guardian? booklet or pick up a copy at your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre.

If you're facing financial difficulties, you can talk to a Centrelink Financial Information Service Officer for assistance. Read Financial Information Services for more information.

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Assistance available to grandparents and carers if someone dies

Depending on your individual circumstances grandparents and carers may be eligible for assistance if someone dies. You may also find it helpful to talk to a Centrelink Social Worker. For more information on assistance available, call the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150.

You can also read the Needing help after someone has died? booklet or view the range of services available in the Are you needing help after someone has died? section.

Other help for grandparents or carers

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 years and living with you. To find out how to apply for child support you can contact the Child Support Agency on 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 or Territory Government for more information.

Organisations and useful information for grandparents and carers

• Child Support Agency - ensures the children of separated parents receive financial support from both parents.
• Council on the Ageing - protects and promotes the well-being of seniors across Australia.
• Department of Human Services - brings together 6 agencies that collectively aim to improve the delivery of health and welfare services to all Australians.
• Family Assistance Office - delivers payments and services to assist families with the cost of raising children.
• Medicare Australia - delivers health payments, services and information.
• Mirabel Foundation - provides support for children who have been orphaned or abandoned and are now in the care of extended family.
• Seniors portal - an online resource for all Australians aged 50 years or over.

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