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Completing the Details of your child's care arrangements (FA012) 007-03020050

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This document outlines information relation to completing the Details of your child's care arrangements (FA012) form that is completed by Family Tax Benefit (FTB) customers who share the actual care of a child with another person and a pattern of shared care exists over a certain period and/or to confirm a child’s care arrangements.

Actual level of care

The rate of FTB for a child in shared care is determined by the actual level of care a person has of a child in an assessment period:

  • Customers with actual care of children for more than 65% of the time may be entitled to 100% of the FTB
  • Customers with 35% to 65% actual care will be entitled to FTB based on the actual percentage of care they have of each of their children
  • Customers with less than 35% actual care of a child will not be entitled to FTB Part A or Part B. These children will not be FTB children

Customers who have children in actual care for 14% to 34% of the time should complete a claim and test their eligibility for ancillary benefits for a Regular Care Child.

Completing the form

Note: if a customer is advising they are separated under one roof, always ask a Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) Risk Identification Question before issuing the Details of your child's care arrangements (FA012) and Relationships details - Separated Under one roof (SS293):

Are you, or has anyone else been, concerned about you or your family's safety?

  • If yes, explore further per the FDV Support Model (FDVSM) to clarify the customer's circumstances. Consider if it is appropriate to issue the FA012 and SS293 to customer's ex-partner. In some instances where there is FDV, issuing the forms could put the customer's safety at risk
  • If no, advise the customer of the forms that will issue to their ex-partner and ask the additional question: Is there any other reason we shouldn't send these forms to your ex-partner to confirm your separation?
    • If yes, explore as per the FDVSM to clarify the customer's circumstances. Consider if it is appropriate to issue the FA012 and SS293 to customer's ex-partner in some instances where there is FDV, issuing the forms could put the customer's safety at risk.
    • If no, issue the forms

Points to note when completing the form:

  • All relevant questions should be answered
  • The form must be signed by the customer and the other carer (if they agree)
  • If there are more than two children, the customer will need to attach a separate sheet with the information for the extra children. Details of the other person who shares the care of the child must be given in this section

Note: the FA012 must be signed by the customer, electronic signatures cannot be accepted for this form.

The rate of FTB payable is determined by applying the shared care percentage used for Family Assistance, based on:

  • The percentage of actual care that the carers agree reflects the pattern of care, or
  • The actual percentage of care calculated according to the evidence provided by the carers. This can include a parenting plan, written agreement or court order, details of the actual times the child is in each person's care during the assessment period, and other evidence provided

The Resources page contains a link to the FA012.

Receipt of claims, forms and documentation for family assistance

Shared care eligibility for family assistance and Paid Parental Leave scheme payments

Customer advises care arrangements for Family Tax Benefit (FTB)