Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is a two-part payment from Services Australia that helps with the cost of raising children. It is income-tested, it is paid per child or per family depending on the part, and the rules around new migrants are easy to get wrong. This guide explains the difference between Part A and Part B, the current rates, the income test, and the waiting period you may have to serve first. All figures were read from Services Australia’s own pages on 14 October 2026.
Key facts at a glance
| Who pays | Services Australia (Centrelink) |
|---|---|
| Parts | Part A (per child) and Part B (per family) |
| Child age limit | Part A: up to 15, or 16–19 in approved secondary study. Part B: up to 18 in some cases |
| Main test | An income test on your family’s adjusted taxable income |
| Immunisation | Your child must meet immunisation requirements for the full rate of Part A |
| Waiting period | Part A: 1 year for new residents. Part B: none |
| Last verified | 14 October 2026 |
What Family Tax Benefit is
FTB comes in two parts, and they are not interchangeable:
- Part A is paid per child. It is aimed at families with dependent children and is the larger of the two parts. Most families who receive FTB get Part A.
- Part B is paid per family. It is aimed at single parents, grandparent carers, and couples with one main income.
You claim FTB through Centrelink, and you can choose to receive it as fortnightly payments through the year, as a lump sum after the end of the financial year, or a mix of both. FTB is a family payment rather than an income support payment, which matters for the waiting period — see below. It is also separate from Parenting Payment and Parental Leave Pay, which are different payments with different rules.
FTB Part A: eligibility and rates
You may be eligible for FTB Part A if you care for a dependent child who is either aged 15 or younger, or aged 16 to 19 and meets the study requirements. To meet the study requirements, a child aged 16 to 19 must be in full-time secondary study, have an acceptable study load, or have an exemption from Services Australia.
You do not have to be the child’s biological parent. Eligible carers include foster parents, legal guardians, adoptive parents, step parents, single parents, and same-sex couples. You must also meet an income test, meet the residence rules, and care for the child at least 35% of the time. Your child must also meet the immunisation requirements, and the Healthy Start for School requirements where they apply.
The current maximum rate for FTB Part A is paid for each child, per fortnight:
| Child aged 0–12 | $235.48 per fortnight |
|---|---|
| Child aged 13–15 | $306.46 per fortnight |
| Child aged 16–19 in secondary study | $306.46 per fortnight |
There is also a base rate of $75.60 for each child per fortnight. The base rate is not a guaranteed minimum — you can be paid less than the base rate, depending on your income.
On top of the fortnightly rate, there is an FTB Part A supplement, which is paid once a year after your payments are balanced at the end of the financial year. It is up to $938.05 for each eligible child for 2025–26, and up to $970.90 for each eligible child for 2026–27. To be eligible for the supplement, your family’s adjusted taxable income must be $80,000 or less.
The Part A income test
FTB Part A uses an income test based on your family’s adjusted taxable income. It is not assets-tested. The thresholds work like this:
- If your family’s adjusted taxable income is $69,131 or less, you may get the maximum rate.
- Between $69,131 and $123,078, your payment reduces by 20 cents for each dollar of income over $69,131, down to the base rate.
- Over $123,078, your payment reduces by 30 cents for each dollar until it reaches nil.
There are also cut-out limits above which Part A stops altogether, and the limit depends on how many children you have and their ages. For a family with one child aged 0–12, Part A stops once family income reaches $129,648. With two children aged 0–12, it stops at $136,218. Because these limits change and depend on your exact circumstances, check the current figures on the Services Australia income test page before you rely on a number.
FTB Part B: eligibility and rates
FTB Part B works differently. You may be eligible if you are:
- a member of a couple with one main income, caring for a dependent child aged under 13, or
- a single parent or a grandparent carer, caring for a dependent child aged under 18 (a child aged 16 to 18 must meet the study requirements).
You must also meet the income test, the residence rules, and care for the child at least 35% of the time. You cannot get Part B on days Parental Leave Pay is paid.
The current maximum rate for FTB Part B is paid per family, per fortnight:
| Youngest child aged 0–4 | $200.34 per fortnight |
|---|---|
| Youngest child aged 5–18 | $139.86 per fortnight |
There is also an FTB Part B supplement, paid once a year after balancing: up to $459.90 per family for 2025–26, and up to $478.15 per family for 2026–27.
The Part B income test
Part B uses a two-part income test for couples. The primary earner is the parent or carer with the higher income; the secondary earner is the one with the lower, or no, income.
- Your family is not eligible for Part B if the primary earner earns more than $124,327 a year.
- If the primary earner earns less than that, the secondary earner can earn up to $7,154 a year before your payment is affected. Above that, payments reduce by 20 cents for each dollar of secondary-earner income over $7,154.
- You can still get some Part B if the secondary earner’s income is below $35,661 a year when the youngest child is under 5, or below $27,777 when the youngest child is 5 to 13.
For a single parent or single carer, the rule is simpler: you are not eligible if your adjusted taxable income is more than $124,327, and you can get the maximum rate if your income is $124,327 or less.
The immunisation requirement
Your child must meet the immunisation requirements for you to get the full rate of FTB Part A. This links directly to the National Immunisation Program schedule. To meet the requirements, a child younger than 20 must do one of the following:
- meet the age-appropriate early childhood vaccination schedule, or
- be on an approved catch-up schedule in line with the Australian Immunisation Handbook, or
- have a medical contraindication or natural immunity recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Services Australia checks your child’s status through the AIR using the child’s Medicare card number and Individual Reference Number, so you do not need to tell them when your child is vaccinated. If a child does not meet the requirements, Services Australia may reduce your FTB Part A by up to $36.54 per fortnight for that child.
If your child was vaccinated overseas, take translated evidence of those vaccinations to a vaccination provider in Australia, who will update the AIR for you. Free translating help is available through the Department of Home Affairs. For the full list of vaccines and the ages they are due, see our guide to the Australian vaccination schedule.
Residency and the waiting period for new migrants
To be eligible for FTB Part A and Part B, you and your child must be living in Australia on the day you claim, and you must have one of the following:
- Australian citizenship
- a permanent visa
- a Special Category visa
- certain temporary visas — a partner provisional visa or a temporary protection type visa
Your child must be living with you, or have Australian citizenship, a permanent visa, or a Special Category visa. There is also a specific provision for subclass 403 visa holders under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme family accompaniment initiative.
Now the part that matters most for new arrivals. If you have recently arrived as a resident, you may have to wait one year before you can get FTB Part A. This is the newly arrived resident’s waiting period. There are exemptions — for example, there is no waiting period for Part A if you got your permanent residence or partner provisional visa before 1 January 2019, or if you hold or have held a temporary protection type visa, a Special Category visa subclass 444, or a Pacific Engagement visa subclass 192. You may also avoid the wait if you get certain other payments, such as Age Pension, JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, or Youth Allowance.
FTB Part B has no waiting period. That makes it the one family payment a newly arrived resident may be able to access without serving the NARWP. Because FTB sits alongside the wider Centrelink system, the waiting periods for other payments differ — our guide to Centrelink payments sets out the full list.
One more note for anyone estimating their income: FTB is worked out on your family’s adjusted taxable income, which is not the same as your salary. Because FTB is income-tested, it is worth understanding how your taxable income is calculated — see Australian tax rates and brackets.
Step-by-step: how to claim
- Check your eligibility. Confirm the child’s age, the care percentage, the income test, and the residence rules before you start.
- Create or link your myGov account. You claim FTB through Centrelink, which you link to myGov.
- Provide your child’s Medicare details. You will need the child’s Medicare card number and Individual Reference Number so Services Australia can check immunisation status through the AIR.
- Give a family income estimate. You need to keep this up to date so you are paid the right amount and avoid an overpayment.
- Choose how you want to be paid. You can take FTB fortnightly, as a lump sum after the end of the financial year, or a combination.
- Confirm your income at the end of the year. Services Australia balances your payments after the financial year, which is when any supplement and top-up are paid.
Common mistakes
- Assuming FTB has an assets test. FTB is income-tested on your family’s adjusted taxable income. The main test is income, not assets.
- Missing the immunisation requirement. If your child is not up to date on the National Immunisation Program, your FTB Part A can be reduced. Check the AIR before you claim.
- Thinking Part A and Part B have the same rules. They have different age limits, different income tests, and different waiting periods. Part B has no waiting period; Part A has a one-year one for new residents.
- Forgetting to keep your income estimate current. If your estimate is wrong, you can end up with a debt when payments are balanced.
- Assuming the waiting period applies to Part B. It does not. If you are a new resident, Part B is the part you may be able to claim sooner.
- Using last year’s rates. FTB rates are indexed on 1 July each year. Always confirm the current figure on the Services Australia page.
FAQ
What is the difference between FTB Part A and Part B?
Part A is paid per child and is aimed at families with dependent children. Part B is paid per family and is aimed at single parents, grandparent carers, and couples with one main income. They have different age limits, income tests, and waiting periods.
What is the maximum rate of FTB Part A?
The current maximum rate per child per fortnight is $235.48 for a child aged 0–12, and $306.46 for a child aged 13–15 or 16–19 in secondary study. There is also an annual supplement of up to $938.05 per child for 2025–26 and up to $970.90 per child for 2026–27.
Is there an assets test for Family Tax Benefit?
FTB is income-tested on your family’s adjusted taxable income. The main test is the income test, not an assets test.
Does my child need to be vaccinated to get FTB?
Your child must meet the immunisation requirements for you to get the full rate of FTB Part A. If they do not, your payment may be reduced by up to $36.54 per fortnight for that child.
Can new migrants get Family Tax Benefit straight away?
FTB Part A generally has a one-year newly arrived resident’s waiting period, with exemptions. FTB Part B has no waiting period, so it may be available sooner.
How do I claim Family Tax Benefit?
You claim through Centrelink, which you link to your myGov account. You will need your child’s Medicare details, a family income estimate, and a choice about how you want to be paid.
Official sources
- Family Tax Benefit — Services Australia
- Who can get Family Tax Benefit — Services Australia
- FTB Part A eligibility — Services Australia
- FTB Part B eligibility — Services Australia
- FTB Part A payment rates — Services Australia
- FTB Part B payment rates — Services Australia
- Income test for FTB Part A — Services Australia
- Income test for FTB Part B — Services Australia
- Immunisation requirements — Services Australia
- Residence rules for Family Tax Benefit — Services Australia
AU0061 publishes general information, not personal migration advice. Visa rules and fees change, and eligibility depends on your individual circumstances. Always confirm the current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs or a MARA-registered migration agent before you act on anything in this guide.