Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is one of the most common forms of family support in Australia. Most Australian families with kids will receive some FTB at some point, and many single parents rely on it as a core part of their income.
This guide explains both parts of FTB, who qualifies, and how to claim.
What is Family Tax Benefit?
FTB is a Centrelink payment to help with the cost of raising children. It has two parts:
- FTB Part A — paid per child
- FTB Part B — paid per family, for single-income and single-parent families
You can receive both at the same time.
FTB Part A — who can get it?
To qualify for FTB Part A you generally need to:
- Care for a dependent child under 16, or a full-time student aged 16–19.
- Care for the child at least 35% of the time.
- Meet residency requirements.
- Have a family income under the FTB Part A upper limit (which depends on the number and age of your children).
- Make sure your children are meeting immunisation requirements.
How much is FTB Part A?
There's a base rate and a maximum rate. Your actual rate depends on:
- Your adjusted taxable family income
- Number of children and their ages
- Whether you share care with another parent
There's also an annual FTB Part A supplement paid at the end of the financial year if you reconcile your income and meet all requirements.
FTB Part B — who can get it?
FTB Part B is for families with one main income earner, including single-parent families.
To qualify you generally need to:
- Be a single parent, grandparent carer, or a couple with one main income.
- Care for a dependent child under 13 (single parents and grandparent carers can get FTB Part B until the child turns 18, if they're a full-time secondary student).
- Meet the primary earner income test.
- For couples, also meet the secondary earner income test.
How much is FTB Part B?
The rate depends on:
- The age of your youngest child
- Your income (and your partner's income if you have one)
There's also an annual Part B supplement.
Paying fortnightly vs lump sum
You can choose to receive FTB:
- Fortnightly throughout the year (most common), or
- As a lump sum after the end of the financial year, once your income is reconciled.
If you choose fortnightly, Centrelink will reconcile after EOFY. If you've underestimated your income, you may have to repay some. If you've overestimated, you'll receive a top-up.
How to claim
1. Set up a myGov account linked to Centrelink. 2. Start a claim for Family Tax Benefit online. 3. Estimate your family income for the year as accurately as you can. 4. Provide your child's details (birth certificate, immunisation history). 5. Confirm care arrangements and shared-care percentages.
Single parents and child support
If you're claiming more than the base rate of FTB Part A, you generally need to take reasonable action to apply for child support from the other parent. Centrelink uses an assessed (not actual) child support amount when calculating your FTB.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Underestimating your income — leads to a debt at tax time.
- Forgetting to lodge your tax return (or non-lodgement form) — Centrelink can stop your FTB.
- Not updating shared-care percentages — both parents need to keep these current.
- Missing immunisation updates — can affect FTB Part A.
How Bloom can help
Family Tax Benefit calculations depend on accurate care percentages and an honest picture of your week. Bloom helps you log custody nights and family events as they happen, so you have a clear record when you update Centrelink — instead of trying to reconstruct the year from memory.