Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for children aged 16-19 years 007-07110030

Information for families with children 16 years of age or older is available on the Services Australia Website and contains information about the family assistance options available through Services Australia. For children aged 16-17 years inclusive in full-time secondary study and living at home, FTB is the main payment option. However, the following options may also be available:

• ABSTUDY as a student or an Australian Apprentice
• Disability Support Pension (DSP)
• Youth Allowance (YA) as a job seeker
• YA as a full-time student living away from home
• YA as a student in post-secondary studies or as an apprentice

A child who is not in full-time secondary study may claim a Centrelink payment in their own right. For payment to commence when they turn 16, they will need to complete a claim on or before their 16th birthday.

Dependent children aged 16 or 17 in full-time secondary study and living at home are generally not eligible for YA. If the child is aged over 16 years and they are not in full-time secondary study, they may claim a payment in their own right.

To help customers work out which payment is the best option for their family's circumstances, the Payment and Service Finder can be used. The Resources page contains a link to the Payment and Service Finder.

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:

• a full time secondary student
• approved to live away from home to study, and
• boarding to attend school

Where the system identifies that a child may be eligible for Disability Support Pension (DSP), a letter is sent at age 15 years and 10 months inviting them to apply.

If the child claims a payment, FTB for the child will cancel. If the child's claim is rejected, or if there is a gap between the FTB cancellation date and the date of grant of the other payment, FTB may be restored if the customer remains eligible for FTB for the child.

Study requirements for Family Tax Benefit (FTB) children aged 16 years or over provides details about study requirements and eligibility for FTB Part A and Part B for children aged 16 to 19 years.

The child may remain a dependent child for social security purposes if they continue to meet Social Security Act requirements. See Assessment of dependent children, additional income free area and child income under social security law.

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. These customers should be encouraged to use the Payment and Service Finder to compare their DVA entitlements to their potential FTB rate.

In shared care arrangements, where one parent/carer is receiving Veterans' Children Education Scheme (VCES) or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (MRCAETS) for a child, this does not preclude the other parent/carer from claiming or continuing to receive FTB for this child. Both parent/carer's can be paid their shared care percentage of the payment they elect to receive. The DVA Clearance Team must be contacted to confirm eligibility in shared care cases. The Resources page contains a link to the Payment and Service Finder and contact details for the DVA Clearance Team.

When a child is turning 16 years of age, it is 'assumed' that the child/ren will continue to be in full-time secondary study past their 16th birthday.

In the month prior to the child's 16th birthday, a letter is issued advising the month and year Services Australia expect the child/ren to complete their Year 12 or an equivalent qualification. The month and year is determined by the customer's usual place of residence and the child's date of birth.

For example, James was born in South Australia on 10 May 2000. James lives in the family home with both parents in SA. Services Australia will assume that James will complete year 12 in November 2017. If this is incorrect, the customer can update the expected course end date by going online or contacting Services Australia.

For families living overseas, the 'assumed' course end date will be calculated using Australian Capital Territory term dates.

Services Australia will assume that a child/ren has completed year 12 or equivalent qualification on the 'assumed' or customer advised course end date.

FTB will continue to be paid until 31 December for any child who completes year 12 or an equivalent qualification in November or December.

If a child completes year 12 or equivalent qualification before November, FTB will continue to be paid for 28 days after the course end date.

Eligibility to FTB Part B ceases for single parents and grandparent carers whose youngest child turns 16 years of age (or at the end of the calendar year the child turns 18 years of age if they are in full-time secondary study).

Twenty-eight (28) days before the exemption end date, the customer is sent a letter asking them to complete the FTB child review online so that continuing eligibility for the child after the exemption end date can be determined. Failure to respond to the review will result in cancellation of FTB for the child.

The 'assumed' course end date for customers with shared care will be based on the place of residence of the parent/carer with the majority of care.

For 50/50 shared care situations and where the FTB customers live in different states or territories, use Australian Capital Territory school term dates and the child's date of birth to determine the system-generated expected year of completion.

For example, Julie and Clare are 15 year old twins who go to different schools. Julie attends school in New South Wales while Clare attends in Queensland. Julie lives with one parent in NSW 100% of the time. Clare's care is split 50/50 between each parent. The other parent lives in QLD where Clare goes to school.

In this scenario, the assumed course end date for Julie and Clare would be different. The assumed date for Julie would be based on the date of birth and usual place of residence, NSW. Clare however, would use ACT term dates and date of birth.

For customers sharing payment of FTB as a blended family who have a child aged 16-19 (until the end of the calendar year in which the child turns 19), the 'assumed' course end date will be determined by the customer who receives the greater percentage of FTB.

In some instances, children over the age of 13 may be eligible for CCS and Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS).

See Updating school status, and assessing age exemptions for Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme payments are not a Prescribed Education scheme payment. AIC payments do not affect eligibility for FTB. For further information about AIC see Eligibility for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) scheme.

Staff may receive requests from customers to provide a letter confirming FTB Part A entitlement in respect of a particular child to support their application for an Equity Scholarship or the Educational Access Scheme.

The following evidence may be requested by customers:

Equity Scholarship

'A recent Centrelink family assistance letter which has been issued to your parent/s or guardian/s demonstrating receipt of Family Tax Benefit Part A. The letter provided must include your given name to demonstrate that you are a dependant of the parent/s or guardian/s receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A.'

Educational Access Scheme

'A Centrelink family assistance letter that has been issued to your parent/s or guardian/s demonstrating their receipt of Family Tax Benefit Part A. The letter must be dated within the period of your year 11 and/or year 12 or equivalent study to be eligible for assessment. The Centrelink letter provided must include your given name to demonstrate that you are a dependant of the parent/s or guardian/s receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A.'

A manual Q999 letter can be issued to the customer. The Resources page contains approved Q999 text and further information.