If you are wondering what government support you can receive when you arrive in Australia as a single parent, you should be eligible for these payments: Family Tax Benefit, Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement, Single Income Family Supplement, Child Care Subsidy, Double Orphan Pension and Health Care Card.
Please note, when researching the below I went round and round the different pages, trying to get to the bottom of the eligibility requirements and, as a NZ citizen on an SCV, if you need to wait the newly arrived resident wait period.
I found conflicting answers, but here it does state that you are eligible for the Family Tax Benefit Part A and Part B, newborn payments, single income suppliment, and the child care subsidy if you hold a Special Category visa subclass 444: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/exemptions-to-newly-arrived-residents-waiting-period?context=22151.
In this post, you will find information on the following:
If you live in Australia and you are a non-protected SCV holder, you may be able to claim the following:
If you have served or have an exemption from the newly arrived resident’s waiting period, you may also be able to claim the following:
Source: Services Australia, New Zealand citizens claiming payments in Australia.
Eligibility for FTB Part A is based on your household income. The amount you get depends on the number and age of your children.
FTB Part B is just for one-income households, so many single parents also qualify for this additional payment.
The maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A is now $191.24 for a child 0 to 12 years and $248.78 for a child 13 to 19 years. Children aged 16 – 19 must be studying for you to collect FTB Part A.
The Family Tax Part A end-of-financial-year supplement for the 2021-22 financial year is up to $788.40 for each eligible child, up from $781.10 last financial year. This supplement is used to balance payments against income from work.
You may be eligible for FTB Part A if you care for a dependent child who is either 0 to 15 years of age or 16 to 19 years of age and meets the study requirements.
You must also meet the income test, residence rules (NZ citizen on an SCV), and care for the child at least 35% of the time.
Your child must also meet immunisation and Healthy Start for School requirements if they apply. They may reduce your FTB Part A payment per fortnight for each child who doesn’t meet these.
When they balance your payments after the financial year, you may get a FTB Part A supplement. If you didn’t get enough FTB during the year, you may also get a top-up.
To get the FTB Part A supplement, your family’s adjusted taxable income must be $80,000 or less.
Waiting periods: newly arrived residents generally have to wait one year before getting this payment, with some exemptions.
Source: Services Australia, Family Tax Benefit Part A Eligibility.
Family Tax Benefit Part B is not paid per child; it is one payment for the family, based on your income. The maximum rate of FTB Part B is:
The FTB Part B supplement is up to $383.25 per family for the last financial year.
They may pay you FTB Part B if you’re a single parent, a grandparent carer, or a member of a couple with one main income.
You may be eligible if either:
Read more about how Services Australia define a relationship.
You must also meet all of the following:
You or your partner can’t get FTB Part B while getting Parental Leave Pay.
Source: Services Australia, Family Tax Benefit Part B Eligibility.
How much FTB you can get
How much Family Tax Benefit (FTB) you may get depends on your situation:
Your relationship changes can affect what payments you can get and your payment rate.
An annual payment of up to $300 to help eligible families.
To get this, you must:
You may be eligible if all of the following apply:
Read the full conditions under who can get the Single Income Family Supplement.
To be eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A and Part B you must meet the residence rules.
On the day you claim, you and your child must be living in Australia.
You must also have one of the following:
Your child must be living with you or have one of the following:
To keep getting your payment, you must continue meeting these residence rules.
Source: Services Australia Residence Rules for Family Tax Benefit.
Here are some Australian not-for-profit websites for single parents that might be helpful:
I sincerely hope the above helps.
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