Centrelink enquiries for Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) 101-03030000

Item

Description

1

FTB Lump Sum claims lodged late due to special circumstances

A customer can lodge an FTB lump sum claim for the previous financial year up to 12 months after the end of the financial year. In special circumstances, Centrelink can accept a FTB lump sum claim up to 2 years after the financial year being claimed.

Eligibility for the CDBS is for the calendar year immediately following the financial year being claimed for in the lump sum claim. This is regardless of the date the FTB lump sum claim is lodged.

Example scenario:

Tania submits a FTB lump sum claim for the 2022-23 financial year on 2 February 2025. Tania’s late claim lodgement is accepted due to special circumstances. Tania’s claim is assessed and paid FTB A for the 2022-23 on 3 March 2025.

CDBS eligibility for Tania ’s FTB child will be for the calendar year commencing 1 January 2024.

2

FTB lump sum claims prior to end of a calendar year

Where a customer lodges a 2023-24 FTB Lump Sum Claim  before  31 December 2024, the eligibility for CDBS for 2025 will be determined on their entitlement for FTB Part A for 2023-24.

Example scenario:

Simon submits a FTB lump sum claim for the 2023-24 financial year on 1 October 2024. Simon is assessed and paid FTB A for 2023-24 on 2 November 2024.

CDBS eligibility for Simon’s FTB child will be for the calendar year commencing 1 January 2025.

3

FTB customer has benefit status of CZR-ITH

Where the FTB status is CZR-ITH (Income Too High), entitlement to CDBS may cease in the next calendar year.

Example scenario:

Joanne was receiving FTB instalments from 1 January 2024. They updated their FTB estimate in August 2024 to an amount which precludes entitlement to FTB Part A. CDBS eligibility remains for the 2024 calendar year as Joanne received FTB Part A during the 2024 calendar year.

CDBS eligibility will cease on 1 January 2025 if Joanne’s FTB status remains FTB/CZR-ITH.

However, if Joanne later receives FTBA as part of their reconciliation for 1/1/2025 -30/6/2025 period, Joanne will have their CDBS eligibility re-instated for the 2025 calendar year.

4

Customer receiving Parenting Payment (PP)

For a customer to be eligible for PP, the child must be aged:

• under six for Parenting Payment Partnered (PPP) or
• under 14 for Parenting Payment Single (PPS).

If a customer is receiving PP the child may be eligible for CDBS. In most cases, the customer would also be receiving FTB Part A for the children and this would be the qualifying payment for CDBS.

To confirm if a child is deemed to be a PP child, go to the Child Selection (CHS) screen and view ‘Y’ listed under PP.

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Frequently asked questions

1

When did the CDBS commence?

1 January 2014 for the 2014 calendar year. CDBS replaced the Medicare Teen Dental Plan, which started 1 July 2008 for the 2008 calendar year.

2

How do customers know they are eligible for CDBS?

A notification will be sent to eligible customers in January each year.

A notification will also be sent to newly eligible customers throughout the year, when:

• there are changes in care, the new carer will receive a notification in January of the next calendar year
• an eligible child starts to receive a payment in their own right, the child will receive a notification in January of the next calendar year

Customers do not need to take their eligibility notification to their dental appointment.

Customers can check CDBS eligibility and their remaining CDBS benefit cap amount for the child by accessing Medicare services through myGov, the Express Plus Medicare App or contact the CDBS team.

Dentists can also check CDBS eligibility and remaining benefit cap amount for the child online via Health Professional Online Services.

3

Which Centrelink payments allow children access to CDBS

To be eligible for CDBS, the customer or their child must get at least 1 payment from the list below at least once in the calendar year.

Who gets the payment:

• child’s parent, carer or guardian. Payment:
• Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A
• Parenting Payment
• Double Orphan Pension
• child. Payment:
• ABSTUDY
• Family Tax Benefit Part A
• Carer Payment
• Disability Support Pension
• Parenting Payment
• Special Benefit
• Youth Allowance
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs education allowances under the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (if aged 16–17) and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (if aged 16–17)
• teenager’s partner. Payment:
• Family Tax Benefit Part A
• Parenting Payment

4

How the benefit cap works

A patient’s entire benefit cap can be used in the first year if needed. If the entire benefit cap is not used in the first year, the balance can be used in the following year if the child is still eligible.

Scenario 1

If a child receives CDBS to the value of $550 in the 2024 calendar year, they are still eligible for $582 of CDBS benefits in the 2025 calendar year.

Scenario 2

If a child receives CDBS in 2024 and reach the $1,095 benefit cap, they would have to wait until 2026 before accessing CDBS:

• 2024 - first year services are provided
• 2025 - second year where the patient can access any remaining balance if they are still eligible
• 2024-2025 - benefit cap of $1,095 over 2 consecutive calendar years
• 2026 - the patient will have access to a new benefit cap starting from this year, if they are eligible
• any balance remaining at the end of the relevant 2 year period cannot be used to fund services provided outside that period
• a patient’s benefit cap can only be used for eligible services provided to that patient: family members cannot share their entitlements