Having a baby is expensive. Read our guide below to available government family benefit payments to ensure you receive all the payments and financial assistance you are entitled to.

More detailed information is available in The What, Why and How of Family Assistance [PDF] or in booklet form from your nearest Family Assistance Office or by calling 13 61 50.

Please note that in order to claim Family Tax Benefit Part A, Family Tax Benefit Part B, the Baby Bonus, Paid Parental Leave and Maternity Immunisation Allowance as outlined below, you must be an Australian resident or listed visa holder.

Regular Payments
The government family benefit payment scheme provides three regular payments for families:

• Family Tax Benefit Part A - general benefit to help with the cost of raising children - more details on Family Tax Benefit A
• Family Tax Benefit Part B - extra help for single-income families - more details on Family Tax Benefit B
• Child Care Benefit - assistance with child care costs - more details on Child Care Benefit

Family Tax Benefit Parts A & B are income tested and can be received as regular fortnightly payments. Alternatively, you can claim benefits as a lump sum at the end of the financial year.

From January 2010, you may no longer receive your Family Tax Benefit on a fortnightly basis if you and/or your partner do not lodge your income tax return or advise the Family Assistance Office you are not required to do so within the required timeframe. Although you may remain eligible for Family Tax Benefit, the only payment method available will be a lump sum through the Family Assistance Office once you and/or your partner’s actual annual income has been verified. This may also apply for any outstanding income tax returns you have failed to lodge for past years you were in receipt of Family Tax Benefit. You will be contacted by the Family Assistance Office if you could be affected by this change.

An application form for Family Tax Benefit Parts A & B will usually be provided in hospital at the time of birth. This copy will contain an official stamp from the hospital and should be used for any benefit claims.

Child Care Benefit is income tested and can only be claimed if you use an approved or registered care provider. Benefits are claimed through the Family Assistance Office, not the Tax system. Further details regarding approved care, registered care and payment systems are available online here or by phoning the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305


One-off Payments
In addition to the above payments, there are four one-off payments available to qualifying families:

Baby Bonus
The baby bonus is $5,294, paid in 13 fortnightly payments. The first payment, was increased to $879.77 on July 1, 2011, to help with the upfront costs of having a new child. The remaining 12 fortnightly payment are now about $379.77 each. The payments are made to eligible families to help with the extra costs of a new child (including adopted and stillborn children). Payments are made for each child in a multiple birth. 

• The payment will only be paid if the family's combined taxable income for a period of 6 months commencing on the date the child was born is equal to or less than $75,000. Payment is made in 13 fortnightly instalments. To be eligible, claimants must be the parent or carer of a newborn child within 26 weeks of the child's birth and be likely to have care of the child for no less than 26 weeks. In the case of adoption the child must have come into the claimant's care before the child is 16 years of age. Claims for the Baby Bonus must be lodged within 52 weeks of the child's birth or adoption.

Claims can be lodged online or by calling the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50.

Read more detailed info about the Baby Bonus on the FAO website.

Paid Parental Leave Scheme
Australia's first national Paid Parental Leave scheme started on January 1, 2011.

The Paid Parental Leave scheme is government funded, is for eligible working parents of children born or adopted on or after January 1, 2011, can be transferred to the other parent and is paid at the National Minimum Wage - currently $570 a week before tax.
   
The scheme is for up to 18 weeks, which can be taken any time within the first year after birth.

More information:
Guide to the Paid Parental Leave Scheme
Paid Parental leave hypothetical case studies - see if you will be eligible
Paid Parental Leave worked examples - see if you will be better off under the new scheme
Paid Parental Leave on the FAO website.

Maternity Immunisation Allowance (MIA)
The Maternity Immunisation Allowance (MIA) is a non-income tested benefit paid for a child who is fully immunised on schedule or has an approved exemption from immunisation between the age of 18-24 months, and again between the age of 4 to 5 years.

• If you did not qualify for the MIA for your child before they turned 2 years of age, under the rules that applied prior to 1 January 2009, you can still receive the full amount of the MIA if your child is appropriately immunised before the age of 5, providing your claim is lodged on or before your child's 5th birthday.
• If you claimed the Baby Bonus, the Family Assistance Office will automatically assess your eligibility for the MIA. If you did not claim the Baby Bonus, you will need to claim the MIA through the Family Assistance Office (FAO). The FAO can be contacted on 13 61 50.

Read more detailed info about the Maternity Immunisation Allowance on the FAO website

Tax Offsets
The Child Care Tax Rebate

The Child Care Tax Benefit (CCTB) is additional help available to eligible working families to help cover the cost of child care.

The Child Care Tax Rebate covers 50% of out of pocket costs for approved child care. Out of pocket costs are calculated as total fees charged for approved child care LESS actual Child Care Benefit (CCB) entitlement received.


To be eligible for the rebate, families must be eligible to receive CCB and meet the CCB Work/Training/Study Test. Families who are eligible for Child Care Benefit, but who receive a zero rate entitlement due to high income are still eligible for the Child Care Tax Rebate. From July 1, 2011, families don't have to wait for the rebate to be paid each quarter or at the end of the financial year. You can now elect to receive Child Care Rebate fortnightly or weekly. By receiving your rebate either fortnightly or weekly, you can elect to have your rebate paid directly to your Child Care Provider to reduce your child care bills immediately.

The Rebate is claimed through the tax system and administered by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Families will need to retain their child care receipts as a record of their total fee charged per child in child care.

Read more detailed info about the Child Care Tax Rebate


Other Payments
The following additional payments may be available to eligible parents:

• Large Family Supplement
• Multiple Birth Allowance
• Rent Assistance
• Health Care Cards
• Double Orphan Pension
• Jobs, Education and Training (JET) Child Care fee assistance

If you have unusual circumstances or have any queries regarding benefits, please consult the Family Assistance Office for advice on 13 61 50.