Who can get Family Tax Benefit Part A?
Family Tax Benefit Part A is an annual tax benefit to help families with the cost of raising children.
Guardians, including foster parents and grandparents, responsible for the day-to-day care of children/grandchildren may be eligible for Family Assistance and should contact the Family Assistance Office at Centrelink for more information.
You may get Family Tax Benefit Part A if you:
- have a dependent child under 21 (including a foster child), in your care for at least 35 per cent of the time, or
- have a dependent full time student aged 21 to 24 in your care for at least 35 per cent of the time, and
- have income under a certain amount, and are living in Australia (that is, Australia is your permanent home), and
- you are either an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen, the holder of a permanent visa or the holder of certain temporary visas.
You cannot receive Family Tax Benefit for a dependent who is:
- your partner
- aged between 5 and 15 years, not undertaking full-time study and has a taxable income of $12,287 or more
- aged 16 or over and has taxable income of $12,287 or more, or
- any age and receiving a social security pension or benefit or a payment under a labour market program, or
- in your care less than 35 per cent of the time. However, if you care for a child for at least 14 per cent and less than 35 per cent of the time 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.
Please Note: You may be able to get Family Tax Benefit if you satisfy the residence requirements for Special Benefit.
For more information, go to the Factors Affecting Payments and Eligibility page on our website.
