Family Tax Benefit (FTB), Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and Paid Parental Leave scheme customer/child going overseas 007-02080000

System

FTB Residence Override

Customer First/Customer Record

ICT security portal access. FAORESO (Mainframe App-Income Security)

Process Direct

SAP access. ESS role: WPIT PORTABILITY OVERRIDE

Example

Description

1

Paid Parental Leave scheme payment customer leaves Australia to live in another country

If a customer is in receipt of PPL or DAP advises they will be or have left Australia to live in another country, they cease to be residentially qualified from the date of their departure and will no longer be eligible for PPL/DAP payments from that date.

2

Application of 56 week absence rule after a brief return to Australia

Celeste is an Australian resident who was overseas before returning to Australia on 1 August after a temporary absence of 44 weeks. On 15 August, Celeste gives birth to a child and becomes eligible for PPL. On 1 September of the same year, Celeste and the child leave Australia temporarily.

Celeste returned to Australia for less than 6 weeks (from 1 August to 1 September) and is deemed to have not returned to Australia. The 56 weeks will expire on the 24 October. If Celeste is still overseas at this time, PPL will cease on this day and cannot be restored or reclaimed for the same child.

If Celeste remains in Australia from 1 August to 12 September, it is deemed to have been a return to Australia as the return period is greater than 6 weeks. In this case, a new 56 week period of absence starts on 12 September.

3

Child born overseas - child born on or after 1 July 2023

Maria has been temporarily overseas since 1 August 2023 and gives birth to a child Layla on 1 February 2024.

Maria claims and is granted PPL due to continuing to reside in Australia. Maria nominates their first PPL day to be 11 July 2024, 5 months after the birth.

As PPL is only payable outside of Australia for 56 weeks from the original date of departure, if Maria has not returned by 27 August 2024, PPL will cease.

Maria may be entitled to claim the unpaid PPL days if Maria returns to Australia before Layla’s second birthday.

4

Child born overseas - child born before 1 July 2023

Julia has been temporarily overseas since 29 June 2022 and gives birth to a child Phil on 29 December.

Julia claims and is granted PPL due to continuing to reside in Australia. The PPL period commences from 11 May 2023, 5 months after the birth.

Julia does not return to Australia so PPL payments cease on 26 July 2023 after 56 weeks absence from the original date of departure.

Julia’s PPL period: 11 May to 26 July 2023 (11 weeks or 55 payable weekdays)

The remaining days in Julia’s PPL period scheduled from 27 July 2023 cannot be paid, even if Julia returns to Australia before Phil’s first birthday. If Julia had commenced PPL payments from an earlier date, the maximum PPL period could have been paid before the 56 week absence was exceeded. If Phil’s date of birth was:

• before 1 July 2020, the maximum 18 week (90 payable days) - PPL period would have been paid if Julia’s PPL period start date was no later than 14 March
• on or after 1 July 2020, the maximum 12 weeks (60 payable days) - PPL period would have been paid if Julia’s PPL period commenced no later than 4 May. Julia may be entitled to claim the unpaid Flexible PPL days if Julia returns to Australia before Phil’s second birthday

5

Cancellation of PPL due to return rules

Helena is an Australian resident who was temporarily overseas before returning to Australia on 1 July after an absence of 60 weeks. On 1 August, Helena gives birth to a child and becomes eligible for PPL.

While in receipt of PPL, Helena leaves Australia temporarily on 10 August. Helena leaves Australia less than 6 weeks after the most recent arrival and is deemed not to have returned to Australia. As such, Helena does not satisfy the residence test for any day of being in receipt of PPL. Helena's payment will cancel and payments already received must be recovered. Helena cannot be re-granted PPL for the same child.

Should Helena leave Australia on or after 12 August, Helena is considered to have returned to Australia as the return period is greater than 6 weeks. Helena's new 56 week period of absence in this case starts on 12 August and Helena remains residentially qualified for PPL.

6

Temporary absence from Australia and access to PPL days - child born on or after 1 July 2023

A customer’s residence status is checked each time they claim a PPL day.

Anna is an Australian resident who is travelling overseas for 4 months. Anna plans to claim some of the unpaid PPL days during the absence from Australia.

Anna will be able to claim PPL days during the absence, provided that:

• the 56 week period of absence is not exceeded
• Anna remains residentially qualified for PPL
• Anna meets the PPL eligibility requirements on the day

Any PPL days that have not been claimed within 2 years of the child’s birth or adoption will be forfeited.

7

Temporary absence from Australia and access to Flexible PPL days - child born before 1 July 2023

A customer’s residence status is checked each time they claim Flexible PPL days.

Maria is an Australian resident who is travelling overseas for 4 months. Maria plans to claim some of the unpaid Flexible PPL days during the absence from Australia.

Maria will be able to claim Flexible PPL days during the absence, provided that:

• the 56 week period of absence is not exceeded
• Maria remains residentially qualified for PPL
• Maria meets the Flexible PPL eligibility requirements on the day

Any Flexible PPL days that have not been claimed within 2 years of the child’s birth or adoption will be forfeited.

8

CCS customer overseas for more than 6 weeks

Ebony receives CCS for their child, Grace. Ebony travels overseas for 8 weeks. Grace remains in Australia with their father, Callum. After 6 weeks, Ebony’s CCS reduces to 0% and zero hours.

When Ebony returns to Australia, their CCS can recommence without having to reclaim. Ebony will not be entitled to CCS for any days they were overseas in excess of the allowable portability period of 6 weeks.

Because Grace is still attending child care in Australia and is in the care of Callum, he could apply for CCS for Grace, which could then be paid for the full duration of Ebony’s absence.

Date

Portability periods

Changes

Notes

Savings - implementation

Original departures on/after

01/07/2016

6 week allowable base rate

6 week above base rate (inc FTB B)

Unless extended to maximum 3 years

Reduce allowable portability period unless extension provisions applied

Cease applying different portability periods for base rate and above base rate

Yes - Change only affected new, original departures on or after 01/07/2016

From 1/7/2014

56 week allowable base rate

6 week above base rate (inc FTB B)

Reduce maximum allowable portability period unless extension provisions applied

Changes apply from 1/7/2014 regardless of date of departure pre-post implementation

No change to above base rate (inc FTB B) portability period

No - Change affected all customers and children regardless of departure date. Customers and/or children who had already been overseas for 56 weeks and were overseas at implementation were cancelled on 1/7/2014

Original departures on or after 1/1/2013

3 years allowable base rate

6 week above base rate (inc FTB B)

Unless extended to maximum 3 years

Reduce above the base allowable portability period unless extension provisions applied

No change to base rate portability period

Yes - Change only affected new, original departures on or after 1/1/2013

Original departures on or after 1/1/2004

3 years allowable base rate

13 week above base rate (inc FTB B)

Maximum 3 years

Reduce above the base allowable portability period unless extension provisions applied

No change to base rate portability period

Yes - Change only affected new, original departures on or after 1/1/2004

Original departures on or after 20/09/2000

3 years allowable base rate

26 week above base rate (inc FTB B)

Unless extended to maximum 3 years

Extensions allowed, up to 3 years maximum

No change to either base rate or above base (inc FTB B) portability period

Yes - Change only affected new, original departures on or after 1/7/2000

Departures on or after 1/7/2000

3 years allowable base rate

26 week above base rate (inc FTB B)

No extensions allowed to either base rate or above base (inc FTB B)

Date

Portability period

Changes

Notes

Savings - implementation

From 2/7/2018 - Introduction of CCS

6 weeks for temporary departures

Return rules and maximum approved portability period of 6 weeks

Extensions up to a maximum of 3 years

CCS children do not have portability limits, whereas CCB/CCR children did

Previous absences on CCB/CCR do not impact future CCS trips, i.e. only previous CCS absences count for the CCS return rules

No - Changes affect all new departures of CCS customers on or after 2 July 2018

From 1/7/2016

6 weeks for temporary departures

Return rules and maximum approved portability period of 6 weeks

Extensions up to a maximum of 3 years

Reduced from 56 weeks to 6 weeks per trip

Yes - Change only affected new, original departures on or after 1/7/2016

From 1/7/2014

56 weeks for temporary departures

Return rules and maximum approved portability period of 6 weeks

Extensions up to a maximum of 3 years

Reduced from 3 years to 56 weeks per trip

Changes apply from 1/7/2014 regardless of date of departure pre-post implementation

No change to above base rate (inc FTB B) portability period

No - Change affected all customers and children regardless of departure date. Customers and/or children who had already been overseas for 56 weeks and were overseas at implementation were cancelled on 1/7/2014

From 1/1/2013

3 years for temporary departures

Return rules and maximum approved portability period of 6 weeks

Return rules period reduced from 13 weeks to 6 weeks

Yes - Change only affected new, original departures on or after 1/1/2013

Before 1/1/2013

3 years for temporary departures

Return rules and maximum approved portability period of 13 weeks