Family Assistance information at the Pram Walk and Health Expo

Victoria media release
Thursday, 23 September 2010

Information about Centrelink and Medicare payments and services will be available to local families at next week’s Pram Walk and Health Expo.

The Pram Walk and Health Expo is an annual event put on by the Baw Baw Shire Council as a fun way for families to find out more about family groups, children’s activities, safety, health and community information.

Local Centrelink staff will join staff from Medicare at the Expo to provide information to families about all Centrelink services, including Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Benefit.

Warragul Centrelink Manager, Annette Anderson, said this was a good opportunity to remind families to lodge their tax return for the 2009-10 financial year if they hadn’t already done so.

"Entitlement to family assistance is based on a family’s estimated annual income for that financial year and is generally paid as a fortnightly payment," Annette said.

"It is then reconciled at the end of the financial year after customers have lodged their tax return and their actual income is known.

"If the customer or their partner was not required to lodge a tax return for a previous financial year, they need to tell the Family Assistance Office.

"By not lodging a tax return, families could be missing out on assistance they are entitled to, including possible top-ups of Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate which are paid once a family’s actual taxable income is known."

Customers wanting more information can call the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150 or visit the centrelink website.

Media Opportunity

What: Pram Walk & Health Expo
When:Tuesday, 28 September 2009 from 10 am to 1 pm
Where: Exhibition Hall, Howitt Street (South Road), Warragul

For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink media contact.