Rent Assistance for Australian Families: Complete Guide to Extra FTB Payments

For Australian families paying rent, Rent Assistance can provide significant relief from housing costs. Paid alongside Family Tax Benefit, this additional payment helps bridge the gap between rental costs and household budgets. With housing affordability an ongoing challenge, understanding how to access and maximize Rent Assistance is more important than ever.

What is Rent Assistance?

Rent Assistance is a non-taxable government payment designed to help eligible Australians with the cost of renting in the private market. It's not a standalone payment—instead, it's paid as an additional amount on top of qualifying payments like Family Tax Benefit Part A. The amount you receive depends on how much rent you pay and your family situation.

Unlike public housing subsidies, Rent Assistance is available to families renting private properties. This makes it particularly valuable for the millions of Australian families who rent from private landlords or real estate agencies. The payment is designed to provide a safety net, ensuring that a significant portion of rental costs doesn't consume an unsustainable percentage of family income.

Who is Eligible for Rent Assistance with FTB?

To receive Rent Assistance with your Family Tax Benefit, you must first be eligible for more than the base rate of FTB Part A. This means the income test for FTB Part A applies—if you only qualify for the base rate due to higher income, you won't receive Rent Assistance through FTB.

Beyond FTB eligibility, you must pay rent for your principal home. The rent must be above a minimum threshold amount, and you cannot be paying rent to certain relatives (such as parents, children, or siblings) unless you can demonstrate it's a genuine tenancy arrangement. You also cannot receive Rent Assistance if you live in public housing, community housing, or own your own home.

The definition of "rent" is quite broad and includes lodging fees, site fees for a caravan or mobile home, mooring fees for a boat if it's your principal home, and even fees for retirement village or nursing home accommodation. However, it doesn't include government housing rent, board and lodging where meals are included, or rent paid to immediate family members in most circumstances.

Current Rent Assistance Rates for 2026-27

Rent Assistance rates vary based on your family situation and the amount of rent you pay. For single parents receiving FTB, the maximum fortnightly Rent Assistance is $79.60. Couples receiving FTB can access up to $75.30 per fortnight. These maximums apply when your rent exceeds a certain ceiling—for amounts below that ceiling, you receive a proportion of the maximum rate.

The minimum rent threshold—the amount you need to pay before Rent Assistance kicks in—is approximately $155 per fortnight for most families. Once your rent exceeds this threshold, you receive 75 cents of Rent Assistance for every dollar of rent above the threshold, up to the maximum rate. This means Rent Assistance increases as your rent increases, but only up to a certain point.

How Rent Assistance is Calculated

Let's work through an example. Imagine you're a single parent paying $400 per fortnight in rent. The minimum rent threshold is $155, so you're paying $245 above the threshold. At 75 cents per dollar, you would receive $183.75 in Rent Assistance—but this exceeds the maximum rate of $79.60, so you'd receive the maximum instead.

Now consider a different scenario: a couple paying $200 per fortnight. They're paying $45 above the $155 threshold. At 75 cents per dollar, they would receive $33.75 per fortnight in Rent Assistance. Since this is below the maximum rate, they receive the calculated amount rather than the maximum.

Rent Verification Requirements

When you claim Rent Assistance, you'll need to provide evidence of your rental arrangements. This typically includes a copy of your lease agreement and documentation showing how much rent you pay. Services Australia may contact your landlord or real estate agent to verify your rental details.

It's important to keep Services Australia updated if your rent changes. Increases in rent may entitle you to more Rent Assistance (up to the maximum), while decreases should also be reported to avoid overpayments. Moving to a new rental property requires notification within 14 days, as both your rent amount and eligibility may change.

Common Situations Affecting Eligibility

Sharing a rental property with others affects how Rent Assistance is calculated. If you share a property with another family and split the rent, each family's Rent Assistance is calculated based on the portion they pay. If you share with someone who isn't a family member, your Rent Assistance is based on the total rent for the property divided by the number of sharers.

Temporary absences from your rental property don't necessarily affect your Rent Assistance, provided you continue paying rent and intend to return. However, extended absences (such as extended overseas travel) may affect your eligibility. If you stop paying rent even temporarily, Rent Assistance will cease until payments resume.

Living with relatives is a common source of confusion. Generally, you cannot claim Rent Assistance for rent paid to a parent, child, sibling, or their partner. However, if you can demonstrate a genuine arm's-length tenancy arrangement—such as having a formal lease, paying market rent, and operating independently—an exception may be made.

Rent Assistance and Other Payments

While this guide focuses on Rent Assistance paid with FTB, it's worth noting that Rent Assistance can also be paid with other government payments such as JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Age Pension, and Disability Support Pension. However, you can only receive Rent Assistance through one payment at a time—it's not paid twice if you receive multiple qualifying payments.

If both you and your partner receive separate Centrelink payments, Rent Assistance is generally paid to just one of you. Services Australia determines which payment carries the Rent Assistance based on your circumstances.

Applying for Rent Assistance

If you're already receiving FTB Part A and start renting, you can add Rent Assistance to your payment by updating your accommodation details through myGov or by contacting Services Australia. You'll need to provide your rental details including the address, landlord or agent information, rent amount, and payment frequency.

If you're applying for FTB for the first time and pay rent, you can include your accommodation details in your initial application. The Rent Assistance will be assessed alongside your FTB claim.

Maximizing Your Rent Assistance

While you can't increase your Rent Assistance beyond the maximum rate, there are several ways to ensure you receive your full entitlement. Always report your actual rent accurately—underreporting will reduce your payment unnecessarily. If your rent increases, update your details promptly to receive the corresponding increase in Rent Assistance.

Remember that Rent Assistance is calculated based on fortnightly rent. If you pay rent monthly, Services Australia converts it to a fortnightly figure. Make sure any documentation you provide clearly shows the payment frequency to ensure accurate calculation.

Rent Assistance provides meaningful support for Australian families managing rental costs alongside raising children. Combined with Family Tax Benefit Part A, it can make a significant difference to your household budget. By understanding eligibility requirements and ensuring your details are current, you can access the full support available to help with housing affordability.