• Skip to content
  • Skip to site navigation
  • Department of Human Services
  • www.australia.gov.au

Centrelink

www.centrelink.gov.au

  • Home page
  • About us
  • Site A to Z   Explore   Help
  • Contact us   Find us
  •  Online services
    • subscribe to Online Letters
    • all services
    • claiming a payment
    • FAQs
    • how to log on
    • online demonstrations
    • register
    • report employment income
  •  Individuals
    • caring
    • crisis and special help
    • help after someone has died
    • illness or disability
    • looking for work
    • moved to Australia
    • parent or guardian
    • retirement
    • self employed or farmer
    • studying or training
    • payments
    • services
  •  Businesses
    • centrepay
    • childcare providers
    • Centrelink confirmation eServices
    • employer FAQs
    • employer information
  •  Community groups
  •  Indigenous Australians
    • ABSTUDY
    • programs
    • publications
  •  We speak your language
  •  International
    • claim forms
    • international services
    • leaving Australia permanently
    • leaving Australia temporarily
    • social security agreements
  •  Community recovery
    • Victorian Storms - March 2010
    • South West Queensland Floods - March 2010
  •  Forms
    • a to z forms
    • claim forms
    • how to order
  •  Publications
    • a to z publications
    • business
    • community
    • corporate
    • customer
    • how to order
    • Indigenous
    • multilingual
  •  Careers@Centrelink
  •  Media
    • Centrelink media releases
    • dates for your diary
    • fact bank
    • media contacts
    • media resources
    • photo library
    • press kits
    • profiles
    • subscription service
  •  What's new
Payments
  • share
    this page:
  • Delicious
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • You are here:
  • Home  > 
  • Individuals  >  Payments  > 
  • Family Tax Benefit Part A - eligibility
listen to this page

Eligibility

On this page

  • Family Tax Benefit Part A
  • New rule for Family Tax Benefit children aged 16–20
  • If you claimed Family Tax Benefit Part A after 1 January 2010
  • If you claimed Family Tax Benefit Part A before 1 January 2010

Family Tax Benefit Part A

You may be eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A if you have:

  • a dependent child aged under 16, or
  • a dependent child aged 16–20 years who:
    • has completed a Year 12 or equivalent qualification,
    • is undertaking full-time education or training leading to a Year 12 or equivalent qualification,
    • has been granted an exemption from this requirement, or
  • a dependent full-time student aged 21–24, or
  • have care 35% of the time, and
  • income under a certain amount.

You may not be eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A if, for example, your child has a yearly income of $13,010 or more.

New rule for Family Tax Benefit children aged 16–20

A new eligibility rule has been introduced for Family Tax Benefit Part A. Young people aged 16–20 will need to be in full time study in an approved course of education or training, in order for you to continue receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A for that child. The young person’s study must assist or allow them to complete a Year 12 certificate or equivalent qualification. An equivalent qualification is considered to be a Certificate Level II course under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

If your child has already completed a Year 12 or equivalent qualification, they will not be required to undertake further education or training in order for you to receive Family Tax Benefit Part A.

If you claimed Family Tax Benefit Part A after 1 January 2010

If you claimed Family Tax Benefit Part A before 1 January 2010 you have been affected by these changes from 1 July 2010.

If you have lost your eligibility for Family Tax Benefit for your 16-20 year old under the new rule, your child can test their eligibility under the new Youth Allowance Parental Income Test which came into effect on 1 July 2010. For more information refer to the Youth Allowance Parental Income Test

If you claimed Family Tax Benefit Part A before 1 January 2010

If you claimed Family Tax Benefit Part A before 1 January 2010 you have not been affected by these changes yet. These changes were legislated to come into effect from 1 May 2010 but will now come into effect from 1 July 2010.

The new implementation date will ensure that if your 16–20 year old would have lost eligibility for Family Tax Benefit under the new rule they will continue to receive family assistance until the new Youth Allowance Parental Income Test comes into effect on 1 July 2010. For more information refer to the Youth Allowance Parental Income Test.

More information

  • Foster care and Family Tax Benefit
  • Grandparents and carers who raise and care for children
  • Family Tax Benefit Part A section

[ return to top ]

Explore www.centrelink.gov.au

Online services

  • all services
  • claiming a payment
  • FAQs
  • how to logon
  • online demonstrations
  • register
  • report employment income

Individuals

  • caring
  • crisis and special help
  • help after someone has died
  • illness or disability
  • looking for work
  • moved to Australia
  • parent or guardian
  • payments
  • retirement
  • self employed or farmer
  • services
  • studying or training

Businesses

  • centrepay
  • childcare providers
  • Centrelink confirmation eServices
  • employer FAQs
  • employer info

Community groups

Indigenous Australians

  • ABSTUDY
  • programs
  • publications

We speak your language

International

  • claim forms
  • international services
  • leaving Australia permanently
  • leaving Australia temporarily
  • social security agreements

Community recovery

  • Victorian Storms
  • South West Queensland Floods

Forms

  • a to z forms
  • claim forms
  • how to order

Publications

  • a to z publications
  • business
  • community
  • corporate
  • customer
  • how to order
  • Indigenous
  • multilingual

Careers@Centrelink

Media

  • Centrelink media releases
  • dates for your diary
  • fact bank
  • media contacts
  • media resources
  • photo library
  • press kits
  • profiles
  • subscription service

What's new

  • accessibility
  • copyright
  • disclaimer
  • feedback
  • help
  • privacy & security
  • your rights
  • Centrelink ABN: 29 468 422 437
  • Page last updated: 7 July 2010