gray families kit hr

8/6/2019 Gray Families Kit HR

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FamiliesInormation Kit or

This kit is printed, authorised and distributed with the compliments o:

Hon Gary Gray AO MPFEDERAL MEMBER FOR BRAND

1/15 Kent Street

ROCKINGHAM WA 6168

T: 08 9527 9377F: 08 9592 1361

E: [email protected] W: www.garygray.com.au


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HON GARY GRAY AO MP ~ INFORMATION KIT FOR FAMILIES | JULY 2011

2

As your local member o Parliament, I

understand it can be diicult sometimes to

ind the inormation you need about the services

and payments available rom the Australian

Government.

I hope this latest edition o the Families

Inormation Kit is a useul starting point to get

relevant inormation, easily and simply.In this Kit you will ind inormation about

Commonwealth services and payments available

to amilies. As new programs and payments

become available this inormation will be

updated.

Please dont hesitate to contact my oice i I can

assist you with any amily related issue, or i you

become aware o any ederal issue that you eel

requires my attention.

Yours sincerely,

Hon Gary Gray AO MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BRAND

A Message rom your localMember o Parliament

Every efort has been made to ensure the accuracy o the inormation provided.

Payment rates in this guide are current rom 1 July 2011.


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Services and payments availablethrough the Family Assistance Oce

Centrelink can also provide a range o services, including social work

services and fnancial inormation services

This guide provides inormation about

payments and services available or amilies.

However, you should always check your

eligibility with the Family Assistance Oce or

Centrelink and call to see what you might beentitled to.

Residence

Residential requirements vary rom payment topayment. Below is a list o the major payments

mentioned and the requirements. ALWAYS

You can make a claim or the Paid ParentalLeave scheme and amily assistance payments

(Family Tax Benet Part A, Family Tax Benet

Part B, Baby Bonus, and Maternity Immunisation

Allowance) up to 3 months beore the birth o

your child or beore a child is expected to enter

your care. Your claim can only be nalised ater

you have conrmed with the Family Assistance

Oce that the child has been born or has come

into your care.

The Family Assistance OceThe Family Assistance Oce is dedicated to

administering a range o amily assistance

payments it is located in Centrelink Customer

Service Centres and Medicare Australia oceshopronts across Australia.

check with Centrelink i you think you mightbe eligible or a payment. Centrelink contact

numbers have been provided in this kit.

I you are claiming Parental Leave Pay, youshould lodge your claim beore your child

arrives. Lodging a claim or Parental Leave Pay

beore your child is born or adopted will help

prevent any delay in providing Parental Leave

Pay.

You can also choose to make a claim or any o

these payments ater the birth o your child or

ater the child comes into your care.

Basic conditions o eligibility or thePaid Parental Leave scheme and amilyassistance payments

Making a claim or the Paid Parental Leavescheme and amily assistance payments


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PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, FAMILY TAX BENEFIT,

BABY BONUS, CARER ALLOWANCE ANDMATERNITY IMMUNISATION ALLOWANCE:

The primary carer must permanently reside in

Australia and be:

nAn Australian citizen; or

nThe holder o a permanent visa; or

nA New Zealand citizen who arrived on a New

Zealand passport; or

nA holder o certain temporary visas.

The child must also meet the above requirements

OR must be living with that person.

PARENTING PAYMENT

The person claiming must be:nAn Australian citizen; or

nThe holder o a permanent resident visa; or

nA New Zealand citizen who was in Australia

on 26 February 2001, or or 12 months in the

two years immediately beore that date, or

was assessed as protected beore

26 February 2004.

You must also be living in Australia on the

date the claim is lodged and either meet a 104

week qualiying residence period or be exempt

rom this requirement; or example, i you are

a reugee or have become a sole parent during

your most recent period o Australian residence.

nCan be paid or up to 13 weeks or temporary

absences.

nDierent rules apply i a person is covered by

an International Social Security agreement.

DOUBLE ORPHAN PENSION

The Guardian must permanently reside in

Australia and be:nan Australian citizen, or

nthe holder o a permanent resident visa, or

na New Zealand citizen who arrived on a New

Zealand passport, or

nthe holder o certain temporary visas.

The child must meet the above requirements or

must be living with you.

Two year waiting periodNew residents arriving in Australia ater 4 March

1997 must wait two years beore becoming

eligible or most social security payments.

However, i you can show that you have suered

a substantial change in circumstances beyond

your control, you may be eligible or Special

Benet. Contact your local Centrelink oce to

seek assistance with applying or any payment.

While this is generally the case or adults

seeking income support payments amilyassistance payments such as Family Tax Benet,

Child Care Benet, Maternity Immunisation

Allowance and the Baby Bonus may be paid or

eligible children sooner.

Payments associated with thebirth or adoption o a child

There are three payments associated with the

birth or adoption o a child

nPaid Parental Leave to help working parents

spend more time at home with a new baby

or adopted child.

nBaby Bonus recognises the extra costs incurred

at the time o a new birth or adoption.

n

Maternity Immunisation Allowance toencourage parents to ully immunise

children in their care.

Paid Parental LeaveWHAT IS THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE

SCHEME?

The Paid Parental Leave scheme is a new

entitlement or working parents o children

born or adopted rom 1 January 2011.

The Paid Parental Leave scheme provides

nancial support to amilies to enable more

parents to stay at home and care or their

children ull-time during the vital early months

ollowing the birth or adoption. The scheme

helps employers retain valuable and skilled

Payments or amilies with children


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sta, and will help employers in the long-term

through increased workorce participation.

Eligible working parents can get government-

unded Parental Leave Pay at $589.40 a week

or a maximum period o 18 weeks. This pay is

taxable.

AM I ELIGIBLE?

You may be eligible or Parental Leave Pay i you;

nAre the primary carer o a newborn or

recently adopted child

nAre an Australian resident

nHave met the Paid Parental Leave work test

beore the birth or adoption occurs

nHave received an individual adjusted taxableincome o $150,000 or less in the nancial

year prior to the date o birth or adoption or

date o claim, whichever is the earlier; and

nAre on leave or not working rom the time

you become the childs primary carer until

the end o your Paid Parental Leave period.

The primary carer o a newborn child will be

the birth mother unless there are exceptional

circumstances. The primary carer o an adopted

child will be the adoptive parent who initially

takes on that role.

WHAT IS THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE WORK

TEST?

To meet the Paid Parental Leave work test you

must have:

nworked or at least 10 o the 13 months prior

to the birth or adoption o your child

nworked or at least 330 hours in that 10

month period (just over one day a week),

with no more than an eight week gap

between two consecutive working days.

A working day is a day you have worked or at

least one hour.

There are some exceptions i you do not meet

the work test due to pregnancy complications

and/or premature birth.

You do not need to be working ull-time to be

eligible or Parental Leave Pay. You may meet

the work test even i you:

nAre a part-time, casual or seasonal worker

nAre a contractor or sel employed

nWork in a amily business (such as a arm)

nHave multiple employer, or

nHave recently changed jobs.

I you work or a amily business (such as a

arm) you can include your hours o work even

i the business is not generating any income,

providing you are undertaking the work or

nancial gain or benet.

CAN I WORK WHILST RECEIVING PARENTAL

LEAVE PAY?

To receive Parental Leave Pay you cannot

work rom the time you become the primarycarer o your child until the end o your Paid

Parental Leave period. I you decide to return

to work beore the end o your Paid Parental

Leave period you will need to notiy the Family

Assistance Oce on 13 61 50.

KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH THE WORKPLACE

Under the Paid Parental Leave scheme you have

the option, i you and your employer agree,

to Keep in Touch with the workplace or up to

10 days rom the time you become the childs

primary carer until the end o your Paid Parental

Leave period. The purpose o the Keeping

in Touch provisions is to allow an employee

to remain connected with their workplace

without losing their entitlement to Parental

Leave Pay. It is important to note that there is

no requirement or either an employer or an

employee to agree to a Keeping in Touch day.

OVERSEEING MY BUSINESSI you are sel-employed, you will be able to

keep an eye on your business without being

regarded as having returned to work. You will

be able to oversee the business operations, and

perorm the occasional administrative task.

IS IT FOR BOTH PARENTS?

I you decide to return to work beore the

end o your Paid Parental Leave period, the

unused part o your Parental Leave Pay maybe transerred to your partner or the childs


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other legal parent or their partner i they are the

childs primary carer and they meet the schemes

eligibility criteria and claim your unused Parental

Leave Pay.

WHEN CAN I TAKE IT?Your Parental Leave Pay can start rom when

your child is born or adopted, or a later date.

It will be paid in one continuous period rom

the start date and must be ully paid within 52

weeks rom the date o birth or adoption. To

receive the ull 18 weeks o Parental Leave Pay,

your nominated start date or Parental Leave

Pay needs to be within 34 weeks o the birth or

adoption o your child.

HOW WILL I BE PAID?

Your employer must provide your Parental Leave

Pay in your usual pay cycle i you:

nhave a child born or adopted rom 1 July

2011;

nhave worked or your employer or 12 months

or more prior to the expected date o birth or

adoption;

nwill be their employee or your Paid Parental

Leave period;nare an Australian-based employee; and

nexpect to receive at least eight weeks o Paid

Parental Leave Pay.

I your employer is not required to provide

your Parental Leave Pay, they can still choose to

provide it to you. You and your employer must

agree or this to happen. Your employer will

need to register or Centrelink Business Online

Services and then opt-in to provide Parental

Leave Pay beore you lodge your claim.

I your Parental Leave Pay will not be provided by

your employer, or i you are sel-employed, it will

be provided by the Family Assistance Oce.

WHAT ABOUT THE BABY BONUS AND OTHER

FAMILY ASSISTANCE?

Parental Leave Pay and Baby Bonus cannot be

paid or the same child. I you meet the eligibility

criteria or both payments, you can choose which

payment is the best nancial decision or your

amily.

Most amilies who are eligible will be better o

receiving Parental Leave Pay rather than Baby

Bonus. I you think you are eligible or both Paid

Parental Leave and Baby Bonus, you should use

the Paid Parental Leave Comparison Estimator

at www.amilyassist.gov.au to work out whichpayment is best or your amily.

You can, i eligible, receive Family Tax Benet Part

A while receiving Parental Leave Pay. You and/

or your partner will not be eligible or Family Tax

Benet Part B and the dependent spouse, child

housekeeper and housekeeper tax osets during

the 18 week Paid Parental Leave period.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO CLAIM?

The birth mother or the initial primary carero an adopted child must lodge the claim or

Parental Leave Pay.

I you are an eligible birth mother or initial

primary carer o an adopted child, you can

decide to return to work early and transer some

or all o your unused Parental Leave Pay to your

partner, or the childs other legal parent, or their

partner.

This person must meet the schemes eligibilitycriteria and must lodge their claim or the

unused Parental Leave Pay either at the same

time as, or ater, you lodge your claim. This

person will be eligible or the scheme i you

have lodged a claim and have been ound

eligible, and i they meet the eligibility criteria.

A person other than the birth mother or the

initial primary carer o an adopted child may

be eligible to claim Parental Leave Pay in

exceptional circumstances. This could occurwhere the birth mother or their partner, and

i applicable the childs other legal parent or

their partner, are unable to care or the child,

or example due to a severe illness or serious

accident. The claimant would need to meet

the schemes eligibility criteria and expect to

have care o the child or at least 26 weeks. The

change o care must have occurred within 52

weeks o the childs birth or adoption.

I you think you may be eligible or the schemein exceptional circumstances, you should


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discuss your individual circumstances with the

Family Assistance on 13 6150.

LODGE YOUR CLAIM BEFORE YOUR CHILD

ARRIVES

I you think you are eligible or Parental LeavePay you should lodge your claim beore the

birth or adoption o your child. Lodging a

claim or Parental Leave Pay beore your child

is born or adopted will help prevent a delay in

providing Parental Leave Pay.

You can lodge a claim up to three months

beore the expected date o birth or adoption o

your child by:

nUsing Online Services at

www.amilyassist.gov.au

nBy calling 13 61 50 to request a claim orm,

or

nBy visiting the Family Assistance Oce,

located in Medicare oces and Centrelink

Customer Service Centres.

WHEN CAN I APPLY?

You are encouraged to apply early. You can

lodge a claim or Paid Parental Leave up to three

months beore the expected date o birth or

adoption o your child. You can lodge a claim or

Parental Leave Pay:

nUsing Online Services at

www.amilyassist.gov.au

nBy calling 13 61 50 to request a claim orm, or

nBy visiting the Family Assistance Oce,

located in Medicare oces and Centrelink

Customer Service Centres.

WHAT ABOUT MY OTHER EMPLOYER-

PROVIDED ENTITLEMENTS?

I you are eligible or the Paid Parental Leave

scheme, you will be able to access up to 18

weeks o government unded Parental Leave

Pay, as well as any o your existing employer

provided paid or unpaid leave. You can take

Parental Leave Pay beore, ater or at the

same time as any paid or unpaid maternity

or parental leave, or other employer- unded

leave entitlements (such as annual leave or long

service leave).

I your employer currently provides paid

maternity or parental leave through an

industrial instrument or agreement, they cannot

withdraw the entitlement or the lie o that

agreement.

Under the National Employment Standards

in the Fair Work Act 2009, i you have been

employed by your employer or 12 months or

more prior to the birth or adoption, you may

be entitled to access up to 12 months unpaid

parental leave associated with the birth or

adoption o your child. You can also request an

additional 12 months unpaid leave on top o

this.

WHERE DO I FIND OUT MORE?To learn more about the Paid Parental Leave scheme

and your entitlements visit the Family Assistance

Oce website at www.amilyassist.gov.au

For more inormation about your workplace

entitlements visit the Fair Work Ombudsman

website, www.airwork.gov.au or call 13 1394.

Baby BonusWHO QUALIFIES?

The Baby Bonus is paid ollowing the birth

(including still births) or adoption o a baby.

INCOME AND ASSETS TESTING

Baby Bonus will be paid to eligible amilies with a

combined household income o $75,000 or less in

the six months ollowing the birth o their child or

the child entering their care. There is no assets test.

RATE

Baby Bonus is a payment o $5437 per eligiblechild and is paid in 13 ortnightly instalments.

A higher amount is paid in the rst instalment

or parents and carers who become eligible on

or ater 1 July 2011. The rst payment is $879.77

ollowed by 12 instalments o $379.77.

Families who become eligible or Baby Bonus prior

to 1 July 2011 will continue to receive 13 equal

instalments based on the 2010-11 rate o $5294.

For a multiple birth, the Baby Bonus may bepaid or each eligible child, where the amily is


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nChild Care Beneft and Child Care Rebate

andJobs, Education and Training Child

Care ee assistance are to help with

childcare costs;

nParenting Payment provides income

support or people with sole or primary

responsibility or the care o a young child.

nDouble Orphan Pension helps you meet the

costs o caring or children who are orphans

Family Tax Beneft Part A (FTBA)WHO QUALIFIES?

Family Tax Benet Part A (FTB-A) is a payment

designed to help amilies with the cost o

bringing up children. It is a payment made toparents. It is paid as a rate per child and varies

depending on amily income and the ages o

your children.

FTB-A may be paid or dependent children

aged up to 16, to children between 16-20 who

have either obtained their year 12 or equivalent

qualication, or who are studying ull-time

toward their year 12 or equivalent qualication,

or who are exempt, and to children aged 21-24

i they are ull-time students.

WHAT IS THE RATE?

The maximum and base ortnightly rates o

payment or 2010-11 are as ollows:

For each child Maximum Base Rate

Under 13 yrs $164.64 $52.64

1315 years $214.06 $52.64

1617 years $52.64 $52.64

1824 years $70.56 $70.56

IIn addition, as o 1 July 2010, amilies are

eligible or a FTB-A supplement o $726.35

per child, paid as a lump sum ater income

tax returns or 2010-11 are lodged, i required.

Payment o the FTB-A supplement or the

year in which a child turns our may also be

conditional on the completion o a health check

or the child. The supplement and any FTB top-up payment may also be used to pay any amily

assistance debts.

Special rules apply or dependent children aged

over 16.

nFamilies with dependent children aged over

16 cannot receive Family Tax Benet or

those children who are receiving a payment

such as Youth Allowance;

nYouth Allowance is subject to a parental

income test and is generally paid at a higher

rate then Family Tax Benet Part A or young

people;

nParents or guardians receiving additional

payments or benets such as a Health Care

Card or Double Orphan Pension, as part o

Family Tax Benet may no longer receive

these payments or benets i they choose or

their child to move rom Family Tax Benet

to Youth Allowance;

nI amilies elect to receive FTB-A it can only

be paid to the parents rather than the

dependent children;

nFor all dependent children aged over 16,

the child must not have a private income o

$13,361 or more per year.

THE INCOME TEST

nThe Maximum rate is paid up to a amily

income o $46,355 and is then reduced by 20

cents or every extra dollar o income down

to the Base rate o payment (the 20 cents in

the dollar reduction is applied to the amilies

total FTB-A entitlement rather than each

child individually);

nThe Base rate is available up to a amily

with an income o up to $94,316 (plus an

additional $3,796 or each dependent childater the rst child), but is then reduced

by 30 cents or every extra dollar until the

payment reaches nil.

To receive some FTB-A the maximum income

levels are:

n$101,312 a year or a amily with one

dependent child under 18; and

n$102,870 a year or a amily with one

dependent 1824 years old.

The thresholds are increased or each additional

dependent child.


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and two parent amilies where one parent is on a

low income or is not in paid employment. Many

two parent amilies receive this payment where

one parent chooses to stay at home to care or

the children or to balance some paid work with

their caring responsibilities. It is designed to giveparticular assistance to amilies with children

under ve years o age although payments may

continue until the youngest child turns 18.

It is designed to provide support to the parent

caring or the children and is paid per amily

(rather than per child).

You and/or your partner cannot receive Family

Tax Benet Part B during a Paid Parental Leave

period. Family Tax Benet Part B may be paidater the end o the Paid Parental Leave period.

THE RATES OF PAYMENT

The rate o payment depends on the age o a

amilys youngest child. I a amilys youngest

child is aged under ve a higher rate applies. I

a amilys youngest child is aged over ve the

lower rate applies.

Maximum Rates:

Age o youngest child Maximum payment

per ortnight

Under 5 years $140.00

515 years (or 1618 i ull time student) $97.58

THE INCOME TEST

Single parents automatically receive the

maximum rate o FTB-B i their income is

$150,000 per year or less. I their income is

above $150,000, they are not eligible or FTB-B.

For two-parent amilies, FTB-B is payable wherethe primary income earner has an adjusted

taxable income o $150,000 per year or less

and the secondary earners income (including

consideration o the FTB-B Supplement) is below:

n$24,912 a year i the youngest child is under

ve years o age; or

n$19,382 a year i the youngest child is

between ve and 18 years o age.

The maximum rate o FTB-B is payable where the

secondary earners income is $4,891 or less per

year. Payments are reduced by 20 cents or every

extra dollar o secondary earner income above this

amount until the income limits above are reached.

nIn the case o couple amilies, income also

includes Parenting Payment (Partnered). In

addition, FTB-B amilies will be eligible or an

FTB-B supplement o $354.05 per amily ater

income tax return or 2010-11 are lodged, i

required. However, this payment, and any FTB

top-up, will be used to pay any amily assistance

debt that your amily has and can only be paid

as a lump-sum ater the end o the nancial year.

RULES OF FTB PAYMENTS

nFamilies that submit a change to their

income estimate during the year may have

their FTB rate adjusted automatically to helpavoid an overpayment on reconciliation at

the end o the year.

nFTB payments are only be made through

Centrelink and Medicare Australia. The

Australian Tax Oce no longer receives or

processes FTB claims. Families can lodge a

lump sum claim with Centrelink or Medicare

Australia at the end o each nancial year.

I you and/or your partner are required to

lodge a tax return, your claim will not bedetermined until you do so.

nThe denition o income or amily assistance

purposes includes income salary sacriced

into superannuation unds and net nancial

losses. This provides more consistency and

improved airness in the system.

nSince 1 January 2010, amilies who incur

debts or ailing to lodge tax returns (or ailing

to advise that they are not required to lodge

tax returns) will have their FTB instalment

payments stopped until their tax returns are

lodged and their previous entitlements are

reconciled. They may receive a lump sum

once this reconciliation has occurred.

Parenting PaymentParenting Payment is designed to provide

income support to parents with sole or primary

responsibility or caring or a young child or

children. Parenting Payment can only be paid toone member o a couple.


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WHO QUALIFIES?

To qualiy, you must:

nHave primary responsibility or the care o

a child aged under six i you are partnered,

aged under eight i you are single, or

aged under 16 i you have been receiving

Parenting Payment since beore 1 July

2006;

nSatisy part-time participation requirements

o 30 hours per ortnight once your youngest

child turns six years (or seven years in some

cases), unless exempt;

nNot be receiving another income support

payment such as Newstart Allowance or

Austudy;

nHave income and assets under a certain

level; and

nSatisy the residence requirements.

MAXIMUM RATES OF PAYMENT

nSingle parents receive up to $625.90 a

ortnight.

nPartnered parents receive up to $428.70 a

ortnight.

I you and your partner are separated by illness,

respite care or i your partner goes into gaol,

contact Centrelink to nd out i you are eligible

or a higher rate o payment.

Telephone and Pharmaceutical Allowance may

be payable.

Single and partnered parents who have reached

the qualiying age or Age Pension receive the

Pension Supplement (see Additional Payments

section).

INCOME TEST

nSingle parents with one child are able to

earn up to $174.60 a ortnight (add $24.60

or each extra child) beore the Payment

is withdrawn at the rate o 40 cents or

each dollar earned over $174.60. See page

28 or Parenting Payment (Single) income

table.

nSingle parents are also eligible or themaximum rate o Family Tax Benet Part B

(no income test applies).

nPartnered parents receiving Parenting

Payment can earn up to $62 a ortnight beore

their payment is withdrawn by 50 cents or

each dollar earned over $62. I they earn over

$250 the Payment is withdrawn by 60 cents or

each dollar earned over $250. The recipientspartner can earn $808 a ortnight beore the

Payment is withdrawn at 60 cents in the dollar.

nPartnered parents may also be eligible

or Family Tax Benet Part B in addition to

Parenting Payment. Parenting Payment

(Partnered) received by the primary carer is

treated as income under the usual Family Tax

Benet Part B income test.

UP TO WHAT INCOME AM I STILL ELIGIBLE?nSingle parents may receive some Parenting

Payment up to a ortnightly income o

$1,739.35. An additional $24.60 may be paid

or each eligible child ater the rst child.

nPartnered parents may receive some

Parenting Payment up to a ortnightly

income o $808.00 or the carer, $1,522.50 or

the partners income, or $1,615.84 combined

(these limits are generally higher i the

partner is also a pensioner).

ASSETS TEST

nSingle parents may have assets, excluding

the amily home, worth up to $186,750 or

homeowners and $321,750 or non-home

owners, beore their payment is aected.

Over these thresholds Parenting Payment is

not payable.

nFor Partnered parents, the couples combined

assets, excluding the amily home, may beworth up to $265,000 or homeowners and

$400,000 or non-home owners, beore their

payment is aected. Over these thresholds

Parenting Payment is not payable.

OTHER ASSISTANCE

I you receive the Parenting Payment you

may be eligible or extra help with the cost

o approved child care through the Jobs,

Education, and Training Child Care eeassistance (JETCCFA) program see page 19 or

details.


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Double Orphan PensionWHO QUALIFIES?

This payment is designed to provide additional

assistance to a amily who is bringing up a

double orphan. I you have care o a double

orphan then you would be eligible or this

payment, whether or not you receive Family

Tax Benet. Double Orphan Pension may be

payable or a child or children under 16 in the

control and the care o the guardian and ull-

time dependent students 1621 who do not

already receive Youth Allowance where:

nBoth the parents have died; or

nOne parent has died and the whereabouts

o the other is unknown to the personclaiming the payment; or

nWhere one parent has died and the other

is a long-term prisoner or patient o a

psychiatric hospital or nursing home; or

nFor reugee children under certain

circumstances. A child who has been

adopted is not considered to be a double

orphan.

RATE OF PAYMENTThe rate is $55.20 and is usually paid with Family

Tax Benet. It may be paid to a guardian or an

approved care organisation.


There is no income or assets test or this

payment.

Carer AllowanceWHO QUALIFIES FOR THE PAYMENT?

Carer Allowance (adult) recognises the

personal care needs o the care receiver and

Carer Allowance (child) recognises the level

o care required by the care receiver and the

care provided by the carer. It may be paid to

people who care or either an adult (16 or

over) or a child (under 16). Two tools are used

to work out whether or not you will be paid

Carer Allowance. They are the Adult Disability

Assessment Tool (or people aged 16 and over)

and the Disability Care Load Assessment, child(or children under 16 years o age).

RATE OF PAYMENT

The basic rate o Carer Allowance is $110.00 a

ortnight.


There is no income or assets test or this allowance.

CARING FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY

WHO ARE UNDER 16

There are two streams o Carer Allowance or

people with a disability under age 16the two

levels o assistance are:

1. A ortnightly payment o Carer Allowance

and a Health Care Card; rstly i the childs

disability appears on a list o disabilities

/ conditions which result in automaticqualication or must cause the child to

unction below the standard or his or her

age level; and secondly, where the childs

condition is not on the list, the Disability

Care Load Assessment (DCLA) is used.

This assessment considers the level o

care required by the child or children with

disability or medical condition, and the level

o care provided by their carer. The carer

and the child must live together in the sameprivate residence; or

2. The provision o a Health Care Card only or

a person caring or a dependent child who

is under 16 who requires substantially more

care and attention in comparison to a child

their age without a disability.

An ex-Carer Allowance (child) Health Care Card

can be claimed by 16-25 year old ull-time

students who held a Carer Allowance Health Care

Card on the day beore their 16th birthday.

Note: The Health Care Card is issued in the name

o the student and is not means tested.

Child Disability Assistance PaymentThe Child Disability Assistance Payment o

$1,000 is payable annually to recipients o Carer

Allowance and caring or a child under the age

o 16 years on 1 July. Each eligible child cared or

attracts a separate $1,000 payment. The CDAP

is not regarded as income or the purposes o

income tax or amily assistance.


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Carer Payment (Child)From 1 July 2009 the Carer Payment

qualication is assessed or carers o children

under the age o 16 changed.

The basic assessment has changed to recognisethe impact o the signicant care provided to

children with disability or medical condition.

The new qualication criteria include:

nA child with severe disability or severe

medical condition; or

nTwo or more children with disability or

medical condition; or

nA disabled adult and one or more children

with disability or medical condition; or

nA child with severe disability or sever

medical condition on a short-term or

episodic basis; and

The level o care required must be assessed

as intense under the Disability Care Load

Assessment (Child).

Note: Carers o children under 16 who qualied

under the previous prooundly disabled child

criteria (prior to 1 July 2009), do not need to

requaliy under the new provisions while they

remain on payment

Other changes introduced are:

nMore sensitive and generous arrangements

or carers o children who have been

diagnosed with a terminal condition

nMore generous arrangements or carers o

children in hospital

nProvision or a wider range o treating health

proessionals able to complete medical orms

CHANGES THAT TOOK EFFECT FROM 1 JULY

2010

Since 1 July 2010, a single assessment process

or Carer Payment and Carer Allowance or

carers o children has been in place. The new

process eliminates the need or carers and

health proessionals to complete separate

questionnaires or the two payments.

The transition to the adult payment has alsobeen made easier. Pre-populated orms have

been introduced and child payments have been

extended until the child is 16 years and 3 months

old giving carers extra time to complete their

assessment and arrange or a health proessional

to undertake the medical assessment.

Speech Pathologists have been added to the

list o health proessionals who are eligible to

assist with Carer Payment and Carer Allowance

applications and complete medical reports.

Carer SupplementAn annual $600 Carer Supplement is payable to

recipients o Carer Allowance or each person

being cared or. An additional $600 Carer

Supplement is also payable to recipients o:

nCarer Payment; or

nWie Pension and Carer Allowance; or

nVeterans Aairs (DVA) Carer Service Pension; or

nVeterans Aairs (DVA) Partner Service

Pension with Carer Allowance

Carer Supplement is paid to those who are

receiving a payment o a qualiying payment

and/or Carer Allowance on 1 July each year,

starting rom 1 July 2010.

Special BeneftSpecial Benet is an income support payment

available to people who are in nancial hardship

and who have no other means o support.

WHO QUALIFIES

To qualiy or Special Benet an individual must:

Be unable to earn a sucient livelihood or

themselves and their dependants because o

age, physical or mental disability or domesticcircumstances, or any other reason over

which the person has no control; and

Not be entitled to any other income support

payment; and

Be an Australian resident or the holder o an

approved visa.

RATE

The rate at which Special Benet is paid is at the

discretion o the Secretary but cannot exceedthe amount o Newstart Allowance or Youth


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Allowance that would be payable i the person

was eligible.


For long term cases (payment beyond 3

months), Special Benet is not payable wherethe available unds o the individual are over

$5,000. For short-term cases (payment under 3

months), Special Benet is not payable where

available unds exceed two weeks payment.

The value o in-kind support (such as ree board

and lodgings) and income is treated as a direct

deduction rom the rate o Special Benet.

Under the assets test, Special Benet is not

payable i the person has assets, excluding the

amily home, worth more than $186,750 or

single homeowners and $321,750 or single

non-home owners.

Crisis PaymentCrisis Payment is a one-o payment available

to income support recipients who are in severe

nancial hardship.

WHO QUALIFIES

Crisis Payment is available to individuals who: Are orced to leave their home due to extreme

circumstances, such as domestic violence or

a natural disaster, and have established or

intend to establish a new home; or

Remain in their home ater removal o a amily

member due to domestic or amily violence; or

Are released rom gaol or psychiatric

connement ater being charged with an

oence and serving at least 14 days; or

Are humanitarian entrants who arrive in

Australia on or ater 1 January 2008 on a

qualiying humanitarian visa.

RATE

Crisis Payment is equal to one weeks payment

(without add-ons) o the persons pension,

benet or allowance.

The Child Support SchemeWHAT IS THE CHILD SUPPORT SCHEME?

The Child Support Scheme exists to ensure that

parents provide an adequate level o nancial

support or their children ollowing separation.

The Child Support Scheme is administered by

the Child Support Agency. The Scheme:

nWorks out how much child support should

be paid; and

nAssists parents in collecting and transerring

payments where they need help.

WORKING OUT CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS

Child support payments are sometimes reerred

to as maintenance or child maintenance. There

are a number o options available to work

out how much child support should be paid.

I either parent applies to the Child Support

Agency a ormula is generally used to work outhow much should be paid. The ormula is based

on research into the costs o raising children,

and takes into account a range o things in

working out payments including;

nBoth parents incomes;

nThe amount o care they provide or their

children;

nAny natural or adopted children in a new

relationship.

Parents can also register their own agreement

with the Child Support Agency that says how

much child support will be paid. There are certain

rules that apply in order to register your own

child support agreement. More inormation is

available at the Child Support Agencys website

www.csa.gov.au, or by calling 13 12 72.

WHAT CENTRELINK WILL ASK YOU TO DO

nI your child(ren) were born beore 1October 1989 you will need to arrange child

support privately OR get a court order OR

a registered agreement or child support.

I you want help with this ring the Child

Support Agency on 13 12 72.

nI your child(ren) were born on or ater 1

October 1989 the Child Support Agency will

use a ormula to work out how much child

support you will be paid. I your child is in

this category then you should ring the ChildSupport Agency on 13 12 72.


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The Child Support Agency will ask you i you

want to collect the amount yoursel, or get them

to do it.

WHERE TO GO FOR MORE INFORMATION

nCentrelink are able to give you inormationabout how any child support payments you

receive will aect any o your Centrelink

payments. Call the Family Assistance Oce

on 13 61 50.

nThe Child Support Agency will be able to

give you inormation about how the Child

Support Scheme works. Call the Child

Support Agency on 13 12 72.

Child Care Beneft (CCB)Child Care Benet is a payment rom the

Australian Government that helps you with the

cost o your child care.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

You can get CCB i you are a parent, relationship

parent, oster parent or grandparent with a child

in your care who is attending child care services

approved by, or registered with, the Australian

Government.You can get CCB i:

nYou have a child in your care who meets

the immunisation requirements (or have an

exemption); and

nYou or your partner (i you have one)

meet residency requirements (or have an

exemption); and

nYour child attends approved or registered

care and you have the liability to pay or the

cost o your child care; and

nYou meet the income test

Please note: I your employer contributes

towards some or all o your child care costs

through salary sacricing or salary packaging,

you will need to determine who has the

liability or the costs. The issue o liability

depends on who is obligated to pay or the

child care ees.

HOW MUCH CAN I GET?

Your entitlement to CCB get depends on your

income, number o children in care, the type

and amount o care you use and whether you

use care or work-related purposes.

WHY DOES THE TYPE OF CARE MATTER?

I your care is not approved or registered careyou cannot be paid CCB.

WHAT IS APPROVED CARE?

nIt includes long day care, amily day care,

outside school hours care (beore and ater

school care and vacation care), occasional

care and in home care.

nThe child care is approved by the Australian

Government because it meets certain

standards and requirements. This includeshaving a license to operate, qualied and

trained sta, being open certain hours, and

meeting health, saety and other quality

standards. Approved child care services are

able to receive CCB on the behal o amilies

to reduce their child care ees as a reduction

in their child care ees because services meet

certain quality standards and operating

requirements. Your service can tell you i

they are approved to receive CCB. To nd anapproved provider in your area call the

Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305

(TTY 1800 639 327) or search the

www.mychild.gov.au website.

WHAT IS REGISTERED CARE?

nIt is when you pay grandparents, relatives,

riends or nannies to care or your child and

can also include care provided by individuals

in private preschools, kindergartens and

some occasional care and outside school

hours care services.

nThe carer must be registered with the Family

Assistance Oce.

nFamilies using registered care can receive

some CCB but cannot claim the CCR.

nCarers who want to know more about

being registered should contact the Family

Assistance Oce on 13 61 50.

nTo nd out i your carer is registered, ask yourcarer in the rst instance.


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HOW MANY HOURS CAN I CLAIM?

The number o hours you can claim CCB

depends on what type o care you use and or

what reason.

Listed below are the Types o Care and the

Number o hours you can get each week:

nAPPROVED CARE

All eligible amilies can get CCB or up to

24 hours per child per week.

Eligible amilies using work or study or

training related child care can get CCB or

up to 50 hours a week provided both you

and your partner meet the work/training/

study test or at least 15 hours per week or

30 hours a ortnight or have an exemption. Eligible grandparents who are the primary

carers o their grandchildren are exempt

rom the work, training, study test.

nREGISTERED CARE

Families can get CCB or up to 50 hours

a week or work or study or training

related care provided they meet the work/

training/study test at some time during

the week child care is used. No minimum

number o hours is required.

nCARE NOT APPROVED OR REGISTERED

Nil

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?

You can claim up to 50 hours o CCB i you use

approved or registered child care because you are:

nWorking (including paid ull-time, part-time

or casual work, sel-employed, paid leave,

unpaid sick leave, paid or unpaid parental

leave and setting up a business);

nActively looking or paid work;

nStudying or training (including voluntary or

unpaid work to improve your skills);

nA grandparent with primary care or a

grandchild;

nA person with a disability; or

nCaring or a child or adult with a disability.

I you have a partner, each o you must meet oneo these requirements to claim CCB or up to 50

hours child care per child per week.

ARE THERE EXCEPTIONS?

Some amily crisis situations might also mean

you can claim CCB or more than 24 hours o

child care a week. Some amilies may have

work commitments that mean they need more

than 50 hours o child care a week. Additionalassistance is available in special circumstances

and parents should speak to their service or call

the Family Assistance Oce on 13 61 50.

APPROVED CARE - MAXIMUM RATE OF

CHILD CARE BENEFIT

I your amily income is less than $39, 785 a year

and you use approved care, you may get the

maximum rate o CCB. I you are eligible or the

maximum 50 hours per child per week and yourchild is not yet school aged you can receive up to:

20102011 20102011

Non-school

Children in Care

Maximum

assistance per

week (50 hrs)

Per hour

or each

child

1 $189.00 $3.78

2 $395.00 $3.95

3 $616.42 $4.10Each additionalchild

$205.47 $4.10

REGISTERED CARE MAXIMUM RATE OF

CHILD CARE BENEFIT

Your amily income does not aect the amount

you get.

20102012

Hourly rate or a non-school child $0.632

Maximum rate o CCB or 50

hours oCare per week or each

non-school child

$31.60

WHAT IF MY CHILDREN ARE SCHOOL-AGED?

For both approved and registered care, rates or

children are 85 per cent o the rates or non-

school children.

CHILD CARE BENEFIT INCOME LIMITS

As your income increases above $39,785,the amount o CCB or approved child care


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decreases. This table shows the income limits

beyond which CCB is not payable:

20102012

Children in care Income limits

1 $138,065

2 $143,095

3$161,581 (+ $30,528 or

each extra child in care)

EXCEEDING THE INCOME THRESHOLD

I your income is above the income limits shown in

the table above, you will not receive any CCB. I your

CCB entitlement is zero due to income you may still

be eligible or the Child Care Rebate (CCR).

HOW IS CHILD CARE BENEFIT PAID?

Depending on whether you use approved or

registered care, you can now choose how you

get your CCB paid to you. For Approved Care

you can have your CCB paid in one o two

ways:

1. All o your CCB as reduced ees - your

CCB will be paid directly to your child

care service who will pass it to you in theorm o ee reductions so you pay less

in ees. You will have to pay any gap in

outstanding ees. This may suit you best i

your amily income is stable and unlikely

to change.

2. Lump sum - you will pay ull child care ees

to your child care service during the year

and ater the end o the income year you

may make a claim or CCB as a lump sum.

Note: You must claim CCB as reduced ees i youwant to receive your CCR as a quarterly payment

even i your CCB entitlement is zero due to

income. I you choose to receive your CCB as a

lump sum, any CCR will also be paid as a lump

sum at the end o the nancial year ater you

have claimed your CCB. You can change how

you receive your CCR at any time by contacting

the Family Assistance Oce on 13 61 50.

For Registered Care, CCB cannot be paid to

the service you must claim it directly rom

the Family Assistance Oce.

nTo claim CCB or registered care, you will need

to ll in a orm (Claim or Child Care Beneft or

RegisteredCare orm FA018 available rom

the Family Assistance Oce) and provide your

child care receipts to the Family Assistance

Oce. You can claim at any time during theyear within 12 months rom when the care

was provided. The money will be paid into

your bank or credit union account.

nRegistered carers cannot receive CCB on

behal o amilies.

I you use a combination o approved care

and registered care you need to claim CCB

separately or each type o care.

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR GRANDPARENTS

WHO CARE FOR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN

Grandparent CCB helps grandparents who are

the primary carers or their grandchildren and

who receive an income support payment. GCCB

pays the ull cost o child care ees or each child

in approved care or up to 50 hours a week.

Grandparents will need to meet the CCB

eligibility requirements to claim GCCB.

Eligible grandparents not in receipt o anincome support payment and who are the

primary carers or their grandchildren may

be exempted rom the work, training, study

test to receive CCB or up to 50 hours or each

grandchild in approved child care each week.

Child Care Rebate (CCR)The Child Care Rebate pays up to 50% o your out

o pocket expenses or child care up to an annual

cap o $7500 per child per year. Your out o pocketchild care costs are calculated ater deducting any

Child Care Benet or JET Child Care Fee Assistance

rom your ees. The Child Care Rebate is not

income tested, so you may be eligible to receive

it even i you dont receive the Child Care Benet.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

You may be eligible or the Child Care Rebate i

you are:

nThe responsible person or your child care costs

nEligible or Child Care Benet (entitled at a

rate o zero or more)*, and


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nUsing an approved child care service.

*Note: There is no income test or the Child Care

Rebate. I you are eligible or the Child Care

Benet, but your Child Care Benet entitlement

is zero due to income, you are still eligible or

the Child Care Rebate.

FOR WHAT TYPE OF CARE?

To be eligible or the CCR, your child must attend

approved care.

Approved care includes long day care, amily

day care, outside school hours care (beore and

ater school care, vacation care), occasional care

and in home care.

HOW IS THE CHILD CARE REBATE PAID?

From July 2011, you may choose to receive the

Child Care Rebate on a ortnightly basis, and

in some cases weekly, paid either to your child

care service as a ee reduction or directly to your

bank account. Whether you receive a weekly or

ortnightly Child Care Rebate payment depends

on when your child care service submits your

attendance data.

You can still choose to receive the Child Care

Rebate payments quarterly or annually as a

lump sum directly to your bank account.

I you currently receive the Child Care Rebate

and would like to receive ortnightly payments,

you should inorm the Family Assistance Oce

on 13 61 50.

HOW TO CLAIM

You must apply or the Child Care Benet to

receive the Child Care Rebate, via the FamilyAssistance Oce. Your eligibility or Child Care

Rebate will be automatically assessed by the

Family Assistance Oce.

It is important to remember that the Child Care

Rebate is not income tested. You may be eligible

to receive this rebate even though your amily

income is too high to receive the Child Care

Benet.

Family Assistance Oce: 13 61 50.

More inormation about the Child Care Rebatecan be ound at www.mychild.gov.au

WHAT IF I DID NOT GET CCB FOR PREVIOUS

YEARS?

I you have identied that you are eligible or

the Child Care Benet but have not received it,

you can lodge a lump sum claim with the Family

Assistance Oce. You must do this within twoyears o the end o the nancial year or which

you are claiming. Once you have received your

Child Care Benet entitlement, you are then

eligible or the Child Care Rebate i you used

approved care and were working, training or

studying or had an exemption.

I you were not eligible or Child Care Benet, you

will not be able to get the Child Care Rebate.

Jobs, Education and Training ChildCare ee assistance (JETCCFA)WHAT IS JETCCFA?

I you are on an income support payment you

may be able to get JETCCFA. This is a payment

to help you with the cost o your approved child

care by paying some o the gap ee not covered

by Child Care Benet (CCB) while you are working,

training or studying so you can enter or re-enter

the workorce. The number o JETCCFA hours that

you are approved or cannot exceed your limit o

CCB hours (24 or 50). The gap ee is the dierence

between the amount you are charged and the

amount you get or CCB. You will need to pay 10c

per hour per child to your service. I you use more

hours than you are entitled to (24 or 50) you will

have to pay the ull cost or these additional hours.

WHO QUALIFIES?

JETCCFA is only available or parents who:

nUse approved child care

nReceive CCB at the maximum rate

nHave an approved Centrelink Employment

Pathway Plan

nReceive an eligible Centrelink payment

Eligible Centrelink payments include:

nNewstart Allowance

nParenting Payment

nWidow AllowancenWidow B Pension


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nCarer Payment

nPartner Allowance

nCommunity Development Employment

Project Participant Supplement

nYouth Allowance (or jobseekers)

nA means tested ABSTUDY payment

nSpecial Benet (in certain circumstances)

To nd out more about JETCCFA contact the

Family Assistance Oce on 13 61 50 between

8.00am and 8.00pm Monday to Friday or visit the

Family Assistance Oce at www.amilyassist.gov.au

Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC)WHO QUALIFIES FOR THIS PAYMENT?

Assistance or Isolated Children (AIC) is paid inrecognition o the diculties o studying or

children in isolated areas. Families o primary,

secondary, and under 16 year old tertiary

students who do not have reasonable daily

access to an appropriate government school,

primarily because o geographic isolation can

receive assistance. An appropriate state school

is one that oers tuition at the year or grade or

which the student is qualied to enrol.

I a student has a disability or other health-

related condition or a special education need

that requires a special school program, acilities

or environment, an appropriate state school will

be one that can provide access to those things.

Assistance can be provided:

nFor children who must board away rom

home in a school, hostel, or privately;

nTo maintain a second home so that a student

can access school daily; ornFor students enrolled in ull time studies in

an approved distance education course.

RATES

nThe total Boarding allowance maximum rate is

$9,507 a year. This is made up o a Basic part that

is not means tested o $7,141 and an Additional

part that is means tested, o $2,366. See below.

nSecond Home Allowance (limited to a

maximum o three students) is $208.04 aortnight, per student.

nDistance Education Allowance will be $3,570

a year or a primary or secondary school aged

child. NB: In early 2011 recipients o the 2010

AIC Distance Education Allowance will also be

eligible or the Distance Education Supplement

($1,094 is to be paid in early 2011).

nPension Education Supplement or students

under 21 years who receive a Disability

Support Pension or Parenting Payment

(single) and who are studying (below

secondary level) o $62.40 per ortnight.

INCOME TEST

nThere is no income test on Basic Boarding

Allowance, Distance Education Allowance or

Second Home Allowance.nAdditional Boarding Allowance reduces by

$1 or each whole $5.00 o parental income

over $45,114. Once adjusted parental

income exceeds $56,910 only Basic Boarding

Allowance is payable.

ASSETS TEST

There is no assets test or AIC.

HOW DO I CLAIM AIC?

The AIC Claim Form and Brochure can be

downloaded rom the Centrelink website

www.centrelink.gov.au or are available rom

any Centrelink Customer Service Centre or by

contacting the AIC enquiries line on 13 23 18.

nYou should lodge your claim by the closing

date. Centrelink will assess completed claim

orms within 21 days o lodgement.

AIC CLOSING DATES

Claims must be lodged by 31 December o the

year o study. However, applicants can register an

intent to claim AIC by contacting Centrelink by

31 December o the year o study. The AIC claim

must be received by Centrelink within 13 weeks

o the intent to claim being registered, or by 31

December o the study year, whichever is the later.

Regardless o the circumstances, AIC is not

payable i no claim is lodged, or intent to claim is

registered, by 31 December o the year o study.


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Concession Cards

Some payments rom Centrelink willautomatically entitle you to either a Pensioner

Concession Card (PCC) or a Health Care

Card (HCC). These cards may provide the

cardholder and their dependents with access

to Pharmaceutical Benets Scheme (PBS)

prescription items at a cheaper rate and a lower

Extended Medicare Saety Net threshold.

The Pensioner Concession Card may also entitle

the cardholder and their dependants to access

a range o other concessions provided by theCommonwealth Government, including:

nbulk-billed GP appointments, at the

discretion o the GP,

nree hearing assessments and hearing

rehabilitation, including the supply and

tting o ree hearing aids rom a range o

service providers,

nlow-cost maintenance o hearing aids and a

regular supply o batteries,

na 50 per cent discount on mail redirection

services provided by Australia Post.

It may also be used by state, territory and local

governments, or private organisations, to

provide cardholders with other discounts on

things like utilities, council rates, motor vehicle

registrations, public transport, rail travel and

additional health, education and recreation

concessions.

LOWINCOME HEALTH CARE CARD

I you are on a low income, you may qualiy or a

low-income Health Care Card.

TO QUALIFY

To qualiy you must meet an income test based

on your gross income or the eight weeks

immediately beore your claim or the card.

For the period 20 March 2011 to 19 September

2011, your income must be less than:

n$470.00 a week or a single person (no

children);

n$816.00 a week or a couple (combined) (no

children);

n$816.00 a week or a single person with one

dependent child;

nFor each additional dependent child add

$34.00 a week.

The Pharmaceutical BeneftsScheme (PBS) Saety Net andCopayment ArrangementsA wide range o prescription medicines

are subsidised through the PBS. In 2011,concession card holders (single person or

couple (combined)), need to pay $5.60 toward

their PBS prescriptions. Once they reach the

concessional saety net threshold o $336.00,

they will usually receive any urther PBS

prescriptions without charge or the remainder

o the calendar year.

In 2011, those who do not have a concession

card need to pay $34.20 toward their PBS

prescriptions. Once they reach the generalsaety net threshold o $1,317.20, this co-

payment reduces to $5.60 or the remainder o

the calendar year.

These payments and thresholds are reviewed

or 1 January each year.

Further inormation on the Pharmaceutical

Benets Scheme can be obtained by phoning

ree call 1800 020 613.

Pharmaceutical Allowance (PhA)WHO QUALIFIES?

Pharmaceutical Allowance is paid to certain

income support recipients to help with the

cost o prescription medicines. Details o the

conditions under which PhA is paid is on page

27 o the Guide to Australian Government

payments.

Most eligible pensioners, and other income

support recipients who have reached thequaliying age or Age Pension, receive the

Additional payments and services


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Pension Supplement, not Pharmaceutical

Allowance.

RATE

As at 1 January 2011, Pharmaceutical Allowance

rates are:nSingle - $6.00 per ortnight,

nCouple - $3.00 per ortnight or each eligible

member.

Utilities AllowanceThe Utilities Allowance is a non-taxable, quarterly

payment to assist certain income support recipients

with utilities bills such as gas and electricity.

Utilities Allowance is paid to recipients o Widow

Allowance and Parenting Allowance who are

under the qualiying age or Age Pension, and to

Disability Support Pension recipients under 21

years o age without children.


support recipients who have reached the

qualiying age or Age Pension, receive the

Pension Supplement, not Utilities Allowance.

RATE

As at 1 July 2011, Utilities Allowance rates are:

nSingle - $544.00 a year

nCouple - $272.00 a year or each eligible

member

Telephone AllowanceTelephone Allowance is a non-taxable, quarterly

payment to assist certain income support

recipients with the cost o maintaining a

telephone service.To be eligible or Telephone Allowance, you must

have a telephone line or mobile phone number

connected in your or your partners name.


support recipients who have reached the

qualiying age or Age Pension, receive the

Pension Supplement, not Telephone Allowance.

RATE

As at 20 March 2011, Telephone Allowance rates are:nSingle - $96.80 a year,


member.

A higher rate o Telephone Allowance may be

paid i you receive a Disability Support Pension

and are under 21 without dependent children,

and you or your partner have a home internet

connection.

As at 20 March 2011, the higher rate o

Telephone Allowance is:

nSingle - $145.60 a year,


member.

Pensioner Education SupplementWHO QUALIFIES FOR THE PAYMENT?

Eligible pensioners who undertake study

may qualiy or the Pensioner Education

Supplement to assist with some o the

ongoing costs o study. This payment is

intended to help with the costs o studying.

You may be eligible or the Pensioner

Education Supplement i you are undertaking

an approved course o education and you are

receiving:

nParenting Payment Single,

nDisability Support Pension,

nWidow B Pension,

nWidow Allowance,

nWie Pension (i the partner receives

Disability Support Pension),

nSpecial Benet (i the person is a single

parent),

nParenting Payment Partnered, Newstart

Allowance or Youth Allowance (other) in

limited circumstances, or

ncertain Veterans Aairs (DVA) pensions

or payments (Contact DVA on 133 254 or

urther inormation).

Recipients o the Pensioner Education

Supplement may also qualiy or additional

supplementary payments such as the

Education Entry Payment o $208. Eligible

Veterans Aairs pensioners may claimEducation Entry Payment rom DVA.


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Mobility AllowanceMobility Allowance is a non-means tested

payment to encourage sel-help and nancial

independence by providing assistance to people

with a disability who are in employment, looking

or work or undergoing vocational training and

who, because o their disabilities, are unable to use

public transport without substantial assistance.

WHO QUALIFIES?

You may qualiy or the standard rate o Mobility

Allowance i you:

nAre aged 16 years or over;

nHave a disability which prevents you rom

using public transport without substantial

assistance;

nAre undertaking an approved activity such

as job search or any combination o paid

work, voluntary work and vocational training

or 32 hours every our weeks; and

nAre required to travel to and rom home in

order to undertake the activity.

You do not have to be receiving a primary

income support payment to qualiy or the

standard rate o Mobility Allowance.

A medical report to be completed by your

treating doctor must be included with the claim.

Both the claim and the medical report should

be returned to a regional oce with proo o

identity and residency details as soon as possible.

You may qualiy or a higher rate o Mobility

Allowance i you satisy the basic eligibility

criteria, are receiving Newstart Allowance, Youth

Allowance (other), Parenting Payment or theDisability Support Pension and are:

nWorking 15 hours or more per week or

wages at or above the minimum wage; or

nWorking 15 hours or more per week or

wages determined under the Supported

Wage System; or

nLooking or such work under an agreement

with an employment services provider.

RATEThe standard rate o Mobility Allowance is o

$83.00 a ortnight and is not taxable. The higher

rate o Mobility Allowance is $116.20 a ortnight.

A lump sum advance equal to six months

Mobility Allowance can be claimed once a year.


Mobility Allowance is not subject to an incomeand assets test.

Remote Area AllowanceRemote Area Allowance is paid in recognition o

the additional costs incurred by social security

income support customers who live in remote

areas and their exclusion, in many cases, rom

the benets o the zone tax osets which are

available to taxpayers living in remote areas.

WHO QUALIFIES?

You may qualiy i you receive an income

support payment and live in a designated

remote area.

RATE

Remote Area Allowance is paid ortnightly at the

rate o $18.20 (single) or $15.60 each (couple)

plus $7.30 or each Family Tax Benet (FTB) or

regular care (RC) child.

Remote Area Allowance is paid automatically

with your income support payment when you

move to a designated remote area and give

Centrelink your address.

A person may receive both Remote Area

Allowance and the zone tax oset through the

Australian Taxation Oce in any given year

(eg participation in part-time seasonal work).

However Remote Area Allowance reduces, on a

dollar-or-dollar basis, the amount o the zonetax oset that would otherwise be received.

Financial Inormation ServiceWHO QUALIFIES FOR THE SERVICE?

The Financial Inormation Service (FIS) is a ree

service to help anyone improve their standard

o living by using their own resources to best

advantage.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

FIS ocers can explain how your income and

assets will be treated under the Social Security


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nFinally, in some circumstances you can

appeal to the Administrative Appeals

Tribunal (AAT). Any appeal to the AAT must

be made within 28 days o receiving the

decision you would like reviewed. I you

want to make an application but he timelimit has expired, you will need to apply or

an extension o time.

Inormation on appealing to the AAT can

be obtained rom the AAT website

(www.aat.gov.au) or by phoning 1300 366 700

(local call ees apply).

I you are not satised with any aspect o

the service that Centrelink or the Family

Assistance Oce is providing, you cancontact the Commonwealth Ombudsman to

lodge a complaint on 1300 362 072 or email

[email protected].

DISCLAIMER: The Commonwealth accepts no

responsibility or the accuracy or completeness

o any material contained in this publication.

Additionally, the Commonwealth disclaims all

liability to any person in respect o anything,

and o the consequences o anything, doneor omitted to be done by any such person in

reliance whether wholly or partially, upon any

inormation presented in this publication. This

table must be considered in conjunction with

all tables and inormation relevant to a persons

circumstances. Pension rates specied in this

publication do not refect the potential rate

payable to an eligible recipient. Existing or

potential recipients should approach Centrelink

directly or inormation regarding their eligibilityand/or payments rates that may be applicable

to them. Actual eligibility and payments rates

or an individual can only be determined on the

basis o personal inormation provided.

CAUTION: Material in this publication is

made available on the understanding that the

Commonwealth is not providing proessional

advice. Beore relying on any o the material

in this publication, users should obtain

appropriate proessional advice.


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Parenting Payment (Single) Rates

FortnightlyIncome ($) With One Child ($pf) With TwoChildren ($pf) With Three Children ($pf) With FourChildren ($pf)

174.60 631.90 631.90 631.90 631.90

200.00 621.74 631.58 631.90 631.90

250.00 601.74 611.58 621.42 631.26

300.00 581.74 591.58 601.42 611.26

350.00 561.74 571.58 581.42 591.26

400.00 541.74 551.58 561.42 571.26

450.00 521.74 531.58 541.42 551.26

500.00 501.74 511.58 521.42 531.26550.00 481.74 491.58 501.42 511.26

600.00 461.74 471.58 481.42 491.26

650.00 441.74 451.58 461.42 471.26

700.00 421.74 431.58 441.42 451.26

750.00 401.74 411.58 421.42 431.26

800.00 381.74 391.58 401.42 411.26

850.00 361.74 371.58 381.42 391.26

900.00 341.74 351.58 361.42 371.26

950.00 321.74 331.58 341.42 351.261000.00 301.74 311.58 321.42 331.26

1050.00 281.74 291.58 301.42 311.26

1100.00 261.74 271.58 281.42 291.26

1150.00 241.74 251.58 261.42 271.26

1200.00 221.74 231.58 241.42 251.26

1250.00 201.74 211.58 221.42 231.26

1300.00 181.74 191.58 201.42 211.26

1350.00 161.74 171.58 181.42 191.26

1400.00 141.74 151.58 161.42 171.261450.00 121.74 131.58 141.42 151.26

1500.00 101.74 111.58 121.42 131.26

1550.00 81.74 91.58 101.42 111.26

1600.00 61.74 71.58 81.42 91.26

1650.00 41.74 51.58 61.42 71.26

1700.00 21.74 31.58 41.42 51.26

1754.35 NIL 9.84 19.68 29.52

1778.95 NIL NIL 9.84 19.68

1803.55 NIL NIL NIL 9.841828.15 NIL NIL NIL NIL

as at 1 July 2011


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Obtaining more inormation

I, ater reading this guide, you need more

inormation about entitlements or amilies,

social security payments or services, call in to

your local Centrelink oce or phone one o the

call centre numbers listed below.

Your local Centrelink oces arelocated at

Rockingham

18 Civic Boulevard

Rockingham WA 6168

Mandurah

24-26 Tuckey Street

Mandurah WA 6210

For internet paymentswww.centrelink.gov.au

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PENSIONS

PHONE

13 23 00

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT DISABILITY,

SICKNESS & CARERS PHONE

13 27 17

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT YOUR

LOCAL OFFICE PHONE

13 10 21

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT NEWSTARTALLOWANCE AND OTHER ALLOWANCES

13 28 50

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PAYMENTS FOR

FAMILIES PHONE

13 61 50

FOR INFORMATION IN A LANGUAGE OTHER

THAN ENGLISH PHONE

13 12 02

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE WITH ANY CENTRELINK MATTERS,

PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE:

Hon Gary Gray AO MPFEDERAL MEMBER FOR BRAND

1/15 Kent Street

ROCKINGHAM WA 6168

T: 08 9527 9377

F: 08 9592 1361E: [email protected] W: www.garygray.com.au


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