FTB Eligibility Requirements: Complete Checklist for Australian Families

Before diving into payment rates and income tests, it's essential to confirm you meet the basic eligibility requirements for Family Tax Benefit. This comprehensive checklist covers everything from residency rules to immunisation requirements, ensuring you know exactly what's needed to access FTB for your family.

Residency Requirements

The first requirement for FTB eligibility is residency. You must be an Australian resident to receive Family Tax Benefit. This means you need to be one of the following: an Australian citizen, a permanent visa holder, a protected Special Category Visa holder (certain New Zealand citizens), or a holder of certain temporary visas in some circumstances.

Beyond visa status, you must also be residing in Australia. If you travel overseas temporarily, your FTB may continue for up to six weeks in most circumstances. Longer absences can affect your entitlement, though there are exceptions for some reasons such as medical treatment or acute family crisis. If you plan extended overseas travel, it's crucial to notify Services Australia and understand how this affects your payments.

Your child must also generally be living in Australia and meet residency requirements. There are some exceptions for children studying overseas or temporarily absent, but in most cases, the child needs to be physically present in Australia to qualify.

Care Requirements

You must have care of a child to receive FTB. This means the child lives with you and you're responsible for their day-to-day care, welfare, and development. You don't have to be the child's biological parent—grandparents, foster carers, and other relatives can also qualify if they have care of a child.

The minimum care requirement is 35% of the time, which equates to approximately 5 nights per fortnight or 128 nights per year. If you care for a child less than 35% of the time, you generally won't receive FTB for that child. This is particularly relevant for separated families with shared care arrangements.

Services Australia assesses care percentage based on the pattern of care over a specified period. If care arrangements are regular, this is straightforward. If care varies, an average may be calculated. Both parents can receive FTB for the same child if they both meet the minimum care threshold, with each receiving a proportion based on their care percentage.

Child Age Requirements

FTB Part A is generally available for children until they turn 19, provided they meet study requirements from age 16 onwards. Children aged 16-19 must be in full-time secondary study (or an equivalent course) to continue qualifying for FTB Part A. If they're not studying or complete Year 12, FTB Part A ceases.

For children under 16, there's no study requirement—they qualify simply by being in your care and meeting other eligibility criteria. However, school-age children should generally be enrolled in school, though there are provisions for home schooling and other approved educational arrangements.

FTB Part B has different age limits. It's payable when your youngest child is under 18 (if in full-time secondary study) or under 13 (otherwise). For single parents, Part B can continue until the youngest child turns 18 if they're studying. For couples, the age limits may be lower depending on the secondary earner's workforce participation.

Immunisation Requirements

To receive the maximum rate of FTB Part A, your child must meet immunisation requirements. Children need to be fully immunised according to the National Immunisation Program schedule, or have an approved medical exemption. Children who don't meet these requirements may receive a reduced FTB Part A rate.

The immunisation checking process is automated through the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). When your child receives vaccinations, the provider should update the AIR, and this information flows through to Services Australia. If there are discrepancies, you may need to contact your vaccination provider to ensure records are correct.

Medical exemptions are available if a doctor certifies that immunisation would be harmful to your child due to a medical condition. Conscientious objections based on personal, philosophical, or religious beliefs are not accepted—these children will receive a reduced rate. The policy aims to encourage immunisation to protect public health.

Income Requirements

While the income test doesn't determine basic eligibility (you can still qualify for FTB at higher incomes), it significantly affects your payment amount. To receive more than the base rate of FTB Part A, your family income must be below certain thresholds. The exact cutoffs depend on your specific circumstances, including the number and ages of your children.

When assessing income, Services Australia uses your "adjusted taxable income" (ATI). This includes your taxable income plus certain other amounts like reportable fringe benefits, reportable superannuation contributions, net investment losses, and some tax-free incomes. For couples, both partners' ATI is combined.

You need to provide an income estimate when you claim FTB. This should be your best guess of what you'll earn during the financial year. If your estimate is significantly different from your actual income, you may end up with an overpayment (debt) or underpayment that's corrected after the financial year ends.

Tax File Number Requirements

To receive FTB, you (and your partner if applicable) must provide your Tax File Number (TFN) to Services Australia. This allows them to verify your income information with the Australian Taxation Office. If you don't provide a TFN, your FTB claim may be rejected or your payments reduced.

If you don't have a TFN, you can apply for one through the ATO. Alternatively, you can provide an exemption if you're in certain circumstances where you're not required to lodge a tax return. However, most FTB recipients will need to provide a TFN to receive payments.

Maintenance Action Requirements

If you're a single parent or separated, you generally need to take reasonable action to obtain child support from your child's other parent to receive more than the base rate of FTB Part A. This is called the Maintenance Action Test (MAT). "Reasonable action" typically means registering with Child Support to collect child support.

There are exemptions from the MAT in certain circumstances, such as when there's a risk of family violence, the other parent is deceased, or the identity of the other parent is unknown. If you believe an exemption applies to you, discuss your situation with Services Australia.

If you're receiving child support, the amount you receive can affect your overall FTB entitlement through the Maintenance Income Test. However, this is separate from the MAT—the MAT is about taking action to obtain child support, while the Maintenance Income Test is about how much child support you actually receive.

Special Circumstances

Some families face unique circumstances that affect eligibility. Families with a child with disability may receive additional support through the Carer Allowance and potentially higher FTB rates. If you're caring for a child with significant care needs, discuss your situation with Services Australia to ensure you're receiving all entitled support.

Foster carers and kinship carers (family members caring for children) have specific provisions. While FTB is generally available, some state-based allowances may affect eligibility or entitlements. The interaction between state foster care payments and federal family assistance can be complex, so seek specific advice for your circumstances.

What to Do Next

If you believe you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for FTB online through myGov, by phone, or in person at a Services Australia service centre. Gather the information you'll need before starting your claim: personal details, children's information, income estimates, and tax file numbers.

If you're unsure about any eligibility criteria, contact Services Australia before applying. Their staff can help clarify requirements and explain how your specific circumstances might affect your entitlements. It's better to understand the rules before applying than to receive unexpected debts later.

Meeting FTB eligibility requirements is the first step toward accessing valuable government support for your family. By ensuring you tick all the boxes—residency, care, immunisation, and income—you position your family to receive the financial assistance designed to help with the costs of raising children in Australia.