Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for children aged 16-19 years 007-07110030
This document explains processing arrangements for Family Tax Benefit (FTB) children aged 16-19 years. It covers requirements for children in this age group; child turning 16, course end date and exemption end reviews.
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Family Tax Benefit (FTB) processing for children aged 16-19 years
Restoring or reviewing Family Tax Benefit (FTB) payments and updating education details
Family Tax Benefit (FTB) processing for children aged 16-19 years
Table 1
Step |
Action |
1 |
Family Tax Benefit (FTB) child aged 16-19 + Read more ...
Note: if the FTB customer also receives an income support payment, update the CHSI screen. This ensures correct dependent child assessment. |
2 |
Child turning 16 years + Read more ... Before an FTB child turns 16, a letter is issued to the customer advising them when Services Australia expects their child/ren to complete year 12 or equivalent qualification. The letter explains how the customer can go online to update the 'assumed' course end date if it is incorrect, or view the 'Family Tax Benefit - Your child is 16 to 19 or stops studying' page on the Services Australia Website. The Resources page contains a link to the Website. Eligibility for FTB Part B ceases for single parents and grandparent carers when their youngest child turns 16 years of age (or at the end of the calendar year the child turns 18 if they are in full-time secondary study). If the customer needs further information to decide whether to continue FTB or claim another payment for the child, go to Step 4. |
3 |
Disability Support for children + Read more ... Where the system identifies a child may be eligible for Disability Support Pension (DSP), a letter will be sent inviting them to apply for DSP. The letter will be sent when the child turns 15 years and 10 months and will include a covering letter and the Disability Support Pension Claim at Age 16 (SA439) form. See Eligibility for Disability Support Pension (DSP). For the effect for DSP on FTB, go to Step 8. For more information on the impact on FTB payments when a child claims a precluding payment, go to Step 8. |
4 |
Customer needs further information to determine payment type + Read more ... If the customer needs further information to decide whether to continue FTB or claim another payment for the child:
DVA customers may benefit from claiming FTB for a child aged 16 years or over, particularly where the family is entitled to FTB Part B. DVA customers cannot receive both a Veterans' Children Education scheme (VCES) or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education Scheme (MRCAETS) payment and FTB for a child. Note: a child aged 16-17 years in full-time secondary study and living at home is generally not eligible for YA. However, if they are living away from home or are independent they may test their eligibility for YA. |
5 |
Update child's education details online + Read more ... Does the customer want to update their child's education information online?
|
6 |
Updating the child's education details for the customer + Read more ... In Process Direct: If the child education details are being updated within a Family Tax Benefit new claim work item being actioned in Process Direct:
If not a new claim activity Service Officers must complete the updates in Customer First. In Customer First Run the Child Education Details workflow. Note: Service Officers must be in the child's record (if they have one) to make all the required updates. Use Ripple Management if required to review if outcome of the update(s) to FTB customer(s) are as expected. If the customer advises the child has not completed year 12 or equivalent qualification and is not in full-time study, record the date the child ceased study. To view or make updates, select the child on the Summary Information table. Select existing:
To add new education/exemption details, select:
For a child who has ceased full-time study without completing year 12 or an equivalent qualification, tell the customer the options available. The child may be eligible for a payment in their own right such as Youth Allowance (YA), ABSTUDY, Disability Support Pension (DSP) or a Low Income Health Care Card, depending on their circumstance. If the child is claiming a payment in their own right, FTB will cancel for the child when the claim for payment is received. Where it is identified the child may claim a payment in their own right, a child record (CHI) is to be converted to a person record (PER). This assists in reducing the possibility of a Multiple or Duplicate record being created when the New Claim process is commenced. For a child claiming a payment in their own right, go to Step 8. If FTB is cancelled or cancelling next pay, go to Step 7. |
7 |
FTB cancelled or cancelling next pay + Read more ... If FTB is CUR but cancelled for this child, the reason will display on the Assessment Explanation (AX) screen. In Customer First, check information via Children > Child information. Is FTB cancelled for the child or cancelling next pay?
|
8 |
FTB and CCS payments after child claims a precluding/disqualifying payment + Read more ... When an FTB child lodges a claim for a disqualifying payment such as:
FTB is no longer payable to an FTB customer for that child. Note: if a CCS child claims one of the above payments, they may continue to attract CCS until they are granted a precluding payment. Do not cancel CCS while the claim for any of the above payments is still being assessed. Once the precluding payment has been granted CCS eligibility ceases from the date that the payment has been granted from (which would include any backdated periods). The child age exception should be ended from the date that the precluding payment has been granted, and customer overpayments may apply. See Updating school status, and assessing age exemptions for Child Care Subsidy (CCS). For the effect on FTB for a child claiming:
|
9 |
Effect of YA claim on FTB + Read more ... A child who turns 18 in year 12 prior to the end of their course can lodge an early claim for YA, up to 13 weeks prior to their 18th birthday. FTB can remain current up until the child's 18th birthday when it will cancel DPP, if YA is granted from the child's 18th birthday. A child who completes year 12 or equivalent qualification in November or December can lodge an online claim for YA with a nominated claim start date of 1 January. This option will be offered if the YA claim is lodged anytime from 1 October to 31 December of the year the child completes full-time secondary education. For a child who completes year 12 or an equivalent qualification in November or December and lodges a YA claim with a nominated 1 January start date, FTB can continue to be paid until 31 December (unless FTB ceases before 31 December for another eligibility reason). When a YA claim is indexed on the child's record for a child who has nominated a 1 January start date, 'DPC' (Dependent Claimed Precluding Payment) will display on the parent/carer's record from 1 January. This displays on the Assessment Explanation (AX) screen. When YA is granted, 'DPC' is auto updated to 'DPP' (Dependent Receiving Precluding Payment). If 1 January is not selected by the FTB child claiming YA, the DPC that is passed is the earlier of the:
Procedure ends here. |
10 |
Effect of DSP claim on FTB + Read more ... When a claim for DSP is received, FTB must be manually cancelled for the child from the child's 16th birthday or the date of the DSP claim lodgement, whichever is later. When an Online claim is lodged for DSP, FTB for the child will be cancelled automatically. Where a paper claim has been lodged, cancellation will occur automatically when a SOA shell has been created in Process Direct for DSP claim processing. If auto cancellation has not occurred, a Change of Circumstance (CoC) work item will be created. To check if auto cancellation of FTB for the claiming child has occurred If auto cancellation has occurred when a DSP claim is indexed, in the parent's record the most recent entry line against the child's name will indicate 'No eligibility, 'DPC' (Dependent Claimed Precluding Payment). Process Direct:
Customer First:
Has FTB automatically cancelled for the child claiming DSP?
|
11 |
Actioning CoC work item in Process Direct + Read more ... If auto cancellation of FTB has not occurred, a Change of Circumstance (CoC) work item will require action:
If any errors display, resolve them and select Assess to finalise the activity. A DOC will automatically be created on Notes (DL) screen. If a DOC has not been created, record information including the reason for cancellation via the DL screen. Procedure ends here. |
12 |
Manual cancellation of FTB in Customer First + Read more ... To manually cancel FTB for a child claiming DSP:
Locate the FTB customer (parent) record:
These screens will show the last carer for the child
To check if FTB has cancelled go to the Assessment Explanation (AXFTB) screen in the parent record. If cancellation has occurred the most recent entry will indicate 'DPP' (Dependent Receiving Precluding Payment). Is the FTB payment cancelling/reassessing correctly?
Note: claims should be lodged by the child's 16th birthday for payment to be granted from that date. |
13 |
Effect of ABSTUDY claim on FTB + Read more ... FTB is the primary payment option for students aged 16-19 years in full-time secondary study. However, in some circumstances it may be more beneficial for the student to claim ABSTUDY (for example, if the student is 18 years of age or older, living away from home or independent). Where applicable, discuss the option of claiming or remaining on FTB with the student and parent(s)/guardian(s). Parent(s)/guardian(s) can compare payment options via the Payment and Services Finder. See Online estimator options. From 1 January 2020, children aged 16-19 years receiving a means tested ABSTUDY payment (such as Living Allowance and School Fees Allowance (Group 2)) can still be considered an FTB child if they are:
The system will continue to pay FTB for this child, if:
No action is required by Service Officers. To restore FTB for children aged 16-19 years receiving means tested ABSTUDY allowances as a full time secondary student and who are living away from home and boarding to study where FTB is not being paid for the child, see Step 3 in Table 2. When an ABSTUDY claim is granted for a child living at home, the parent/carer's record displays on the Assessment Explanation (AX) screen for the child as 'DPP' (Dependent Receiving Precluding Payment). This action automatically occurs when ABSTUDY is granted and FTB is no longer payable for that child. Note: if a CCS child claims one of the above payments, they may continue to attract CCS until they are granted a precluding payment. Do not cancel CCS while the claim for any of the above payments is still being assessed. Once the precluding payment has been granted CCS eligibility ceases from the date that the payment has been granted from (which would include any backdated periods). The child age exception should be ended from the date that the precluding payment has been granted, and customer overpayments may apply. See Updating school status, and assessing age exemptions for Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Procedure ends here. |
14 |
FTB not cancelling/reassessing + Read more ... If the FTB payment is not cancelling/reassessing after updating the record, in Customer First:
|
Restoring or reviewing Family Tax Benefit (FTB) payments and updating education details
Table 2
Step |
Action |
1 |
FTB for a gap period or if disqualifying payment claim is rejected/withdrawn + Read more ... Note: FTB cannot be restored if the disqualifying payment claim is awaiting processing. For DSP claims awaiting processing, see Progress of claim - Disability Support Pension (DSP). For YA claims awaiting processing, see Progress of claims. Gap payment may apply The customer may still be eligible for FTB for the relevant child if one of the following applies:
If one of the above conditions applies, FTB may be restored for the child. Go to Step 2. To restore FTB for children aged 16-19 years receiving means tested ABSTUDY allowances as a full time secondary student and who are living away from home and boarding to study, go to Step 3. If a gap payment does not apply, procedure ends here. |
2 |
Restoring FTB for a gap period or DSP/YA claim is rejected/withdrawn + Read more ... For DSP processing Service Officers DSP claim was rejected, withdrawn or granted in Process Direct If FTB is cancelled for the child on a date prior to the start date of their DSP claim, an open work item will be automatically created. It will be allocated to appropriately trained Families staff to re-assess FTB and/or DOP for the gap period. Where a DSP claim has been rejected or withdrawn, an open work item will be automatically created. It will be allocated to appropriately trained Families staff for action to re-assess/restore FTB and/or DOP for the child. DSP claim was rejected, withdrawn or granted
For YA processing Service Officers YA claim was rejected, withdrawn or granted with gap in entitlement
For Families and Child Care trained staff only In Customer First:
Note: if the child was also attracting Double Orphan Pension (DOP) immediately before the claim was submitted, a separate Fast Note must be sent to the DOP Processing Team (DOP) requesting DOP is reinstated, select Auto text, use Families > SUS/CAN/RES > DOP Reclaim. Procedure ends here. |
3 |
Restoring FTB for children aged 16-19 years receiving means tested ABSTUDY allowances as a full time secondary student and are living away from home and boarding to study + Read more ... For ABSTUDY processing Service Officers
For Families and Child Care trained staff only
Note: FTB will commence for the ABSTUDY child from the first eligible date. For example, if CHOC screen is coded with 1 January 2020 and the child was in receipt of ABSTUDY but didn't commence boarding away from home to study until 1 March 2020 and child is already 16, FTB for this child will only be able to be paid from 1st March 2020. Where a re-assessment or claim occurs for an FTB ABSTUDY eligible child for a period more than 2 years in the past, a system limitation may result in an incorrect assessment (child not being assessed as FTB eligible). Do not complete the activity.
For FTB MIV action only When the above Fast Note is received:
|
4 |
FTB - Updating Course end date + Read more ... If the customer does not wish to go online, in Customer First run the Child Education Details workflow:
Note: if the child has their own PER record, in the child's record:
Use Ripple Management if needed. Is the customer advising that the child has completed/will complete year 12 or equivalent when the course ends?
|
5 |
FTB - Exemption end date review + Read more ... Twenty-eight (28) days before the exemption is due to end, the customer is sent a letter asking them to complete the child update online. If required, assess further exemption. If the customer does not wish to go online, run the FTB Child 16-20 review workflow. Select the Add education details button prior to finalising the workflow. Use screen help [?] for help with coding. If FTB needs to be restored, go to Step 6. |
6 |
To restore FTB following course end date update or exemption end date review + Read more ... FTB may be restored from date paid to plus one if the customer has remained eligible. Note: education details must be manually updated first. In Customer First, select Workspace> Children> Child Education Details. Select the child's name. Under Education Information, select the relevant education details line with the end date that needs to be updated. Select Update education details and record the information. Use screen help [?] for help with coding.
Finalise the activity on the Assessment Results (AR) screen. Record details on a DOC. |