Processing Family Tax Benefit (FTB) claims from Approved Care Organisations (ACO) 007-07030060

ACO wishes to claim Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for the child.

The ACO status needs to be approved by Services Australia before their claim can be assessed. Once approved, the 'ACO admission, transfer or discharge spreadsheet' is supplied by the ACO Smart Centre Processing team.

The completed spreadsheet is required when an ACO is claiming for children entering care, and can be used for multiple children entering and/or leaving their care. All ACO FTB claims received via the spreadsheet must be emailed to ACO Smart Centre Processing.

For ACO Smart Centre Processing only

Is an income support payment currently being paid in respect of the child?

• Yes, if:
• the child is entering a Youth Justice Centre, check if the income support payment should be cancelled due to the young person being incarcerated. If income support payment is cancelled, the ACO FTB claim can then be granted. Go to Step 3
• no incarceration is involved, the ACO claim should be rejected - due to precluding payment. Go to Step 9
• No, go to Step 3.

For ACO Smart Centre Processing only

Is the Approved Care Organisation (ACO) currently receiving Family Tax Benefit (FTB)?

• Yes. on the Family Task Selector (FTS) screen in the ACO's record, code 'ACH' activity (additional claim for FTB). Go to Step 5
• No, go to Step 4

For ACO Smart Centre Processing only

Index a 'NCL' activity for service reason 'FTB'.

Is an Approved Care Organisation (ACO) record found?

• Yes, 'S'elect the ACO record from the Organisation List (OL) screen and confirm selection on the Organisation Details (DL) screen. Go to Step 5
• No, complete a thorough search for ACO record via ON screen. If no record exists, add record by processing an 'ADD' activity for service reason 'ACO' via the ON screen. Once ACO record has been added, index FTB NCL activity from ON screen. Go to Step 5

For ACO Smart Centre Processing only

Select screens as required to record or update details.

• Organisation Name Details (OND)
• Organisation Service Contact Details (OSCS)
• Payment Destination Details (PAFA)
• FAO Approved Care Organisation (FACO) screen
• No FTB is to be paid unless a decision has been made to grant APP - Approved Care Organisation Status

For ACO Smart Centre Processing only

For help, see Change of care for Family Tax Benefit (FTB).

Is previous carer still eligible for the child/ren?

• Yes, go to Step 7
• No, change of care confirmed
• To cancel the previous carer's FTB for the child, code child left care on the losing carer's record. For help, see Child leaves customer's care/custody
• Ensure that record is DOCumented to support the Change of Care to the ACO, advising that no change of care should be updated prior to confirming the change of care with the ACO team
• On ACO record, link child and update child details after 'S'electing child from the Child Selection (CHS) screen. For help, see Linking a child to a customer's record

For ACO Smart Centre Processing only

See Eligibility for Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for Approved Care Organisations (ACO).

• Yes, go to Step 9
• No, go to Step 8

For ACO Smart Centre Processing only

• If claim is to be rejected due to temporary absence, create a DOC on the carer record to reflect notification of admission to ACO, noting temporary care and no change in FTB entitlement for the carer
• Record decision on ACO record on a DOC and store claim

Procedure ends here.

For ACO Smart Centre Processing only

• For further help coding claim, see Pre-processing checks for standalone and combined claims for family assistance and/or Paid Parental Leave payments

Note: The FSC, SSC and !CADDS screens are not required to be updated when coding a child into the care of an ACO.

• Record decision on a DOC, including dates of care and name of ACO
• Follow-up any overpayment of FTB
• Store claim
• ACO will receive a fortnightly advice automatically detailing payments paid during the last fortnight
• Use Fast Note - select Auto text, use Families > Updates > YAL Suspended - IMP, ensuring the ‘Display on access’ checkbox is selected. Code the expiry date 60 days from today’s date

After finalising and documenting the claim, check if the FTB child is receiving a Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) payment. SRSS recipients (including children) have a Benefit Status of NRR/CUR.

Is the child receiving SRSS?

• Yes, use Fast Note - select Auto Text, use Multicultural > Updates > FTB Granted for SRSS Customer/Child to send details for follow up. Keyword 'FTBSRSS' will be included on the Fast Note, no additional keywords are required.
• No, procedure ends here