Eligibility for Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for individuals 007-07040010

Families can go online to:

• calculate their potential FTB entitlement using the online estimators
• claim FTB

To be eligible for FTB, a claimant must make an effective claim:

• Submit an online claim or lodge a paper claim by the end of the lodgement year
• Provide all information and documentation required to assess their claim including:
• their (and their partner's) tax file number
• bank account details
• child's proof of birth if not previously provided

For more information, see Initial contact by customers claiming payments for families.

Does the claimant satisfy Australian residence requirements?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, they are not eligible for FTB. If another person may be eligible for FTB for the same child/children (for example, claimant's partner), invite them to claim FTB. In the partner's record, issue a Q369 letter - Invite to claim for Family Assistance and Parental Leave Pay. Procedure ends here

Specific procedures apply for assessing FTB eligibility in the following circumstances:

• a change of care has occurred
• a care arrangement exists for a child. The child must be in the person's care at least 35% of the time for the child to be an FTB child of the person
• a person claims FTB as a member of a blended family
• a child is out of a person's care without their consent
• study requirements must be met if the child is aged 16-19

Does the claimant have at least 1 FTB child in their care?

• Yes, go to Step 4
• No, they are not eligible for FTB. Note: claimants with a Regular Care Child in their care may claim FTB to receive ancillary benefits for the child. They may be eligible for Single Income Family Supplement (SIFS) separately if they have a qualifying child. Note: from the 2017-18 financial year, SIFS is not payable to new claimants. Grandfathering provisions for SIFS will apply. Procedure ends here

Eligibility is assessed automatically per details recorded for the claim. An individual's FTB rate can include the following:

• FTB Part A per FTB child until end of calendar year child turns 19 years of age (must meet study requirements if aged 16-19 years)
• Large Family Supplement (LFS) and Multiple Birth Allowance (MBA) are paid automatically if the person is eligible. Note: LFS is no longer paid from 1 July 2016
• Rent Assistance can be paid if the person has provided rent verification and is entitled to more than base rate Part A
• Eligibility for Newborn Supplement and Newborn Upfront Payment is assessed for a child born, or entrusted to care as part of an adoption process, on or after 1 March 2014, unless the person has chosen to claim Parental Leave Pay (PPL)
• FTB Part B (per family) based on the aged of the youngest FTB child
• from 1 July 2016, FTB Part B is not payable to a member of a couple who has a youngest child aged 13 years or over, unless the person is a grandparent carer. Single customers and grandparent carers can continue to be paid FTB Part B up to the end of the calendar year in which the youngest child turns 18 (child must be in full-time secondary study if aged 16-18)
• Single Income Family Supplement (SIFS), paid after the financial year. Note: from the 2017-18 financial year, SIFS is not payable to new claimants. Grandfathering provisions for SIFS will apply.

Separate income tests apply for Part A, Part B and SIFS.

Eligibility for Part A and Part B supplements and SIFS is only assessed after the end of the financial year, during the FTB reconciliation process or lump sum claim assessment.

Claimants can choose from a number of FTB claim options and payment choices, but these do not affect their eligibility as it is based on their legislative rate of FTB Part A.

FTB may not be payable due to the following measures:

• Prohibition of FTB instalments (PIP) due to non-lodgement of tax returns
• Non-payment of FTB due to zero entitlement years

Is the claimant entitled to a rate greater than nil?

• Yes, they are eligible for FTB
• No, they are not eligible for FTB. Their claim will auto reject based on income and other circumstances recorded. Note: the person may become eligible after the end of the relevant financial year once FTB Part A and Part B supplements and SIFS are included, if eligible