The Australian government offers the Family Tax Benefit in two parts, Part A and Part B, to help parents and families with the rising cost of raising children. If you are confused about the FTB parts and wish to receive the benefit, you can find the full details about the benefit here.
The FTB benefit is the key component of the Social Security system, to assist eligible families and reduce the financial stress among families with children with expenses like education, healthcare, childcare, and others.
The payout depends on your family situation and the part you qualified for. The Service Australia processes the FTB payment on a fortnight or lump sum payment as per your selection when you apply for the benefit.
What’s the difference between FTB Part A and Part B?
The Family Tax Benefit two-part can confuse anybody; hence, to understand which part is for you, or to understand it, you can check the difference between them below:
| FTB Part A | FTB Part B |
| The components are paid based on each child, your income, and the children’s ages. | It is based on the family, where single parents, grandparents receive the payment for caring for dependent children. |
| Children you care for must be 0 to 15 years of age or 16 to 19 years if they meet the study requirements. | The dependent child should be under 18 if you are a single parent or grandparent, and for 16 to 18, the study requirements conditions should be met. |
What’s the eligibility for the FTB Part A and Part B?
The families or individuals must meet the FTB eligibility requirements of any of the Parts to receive the benefit. The factors involved in the FTB eligibility are age, income test, caring for the child at least 35% of the time, residence rules, and others, such as:
- FTB Part A eligibility:
- The dependent child’s age should be between 0 and 15 or 16 to 19 if he/she meets the study requirements.
- You must care for the child minimum of 35% of the time, and the child must also meet the immunisation requirements.
- Your adjustable taxable income for the FTB Part A payment is $66,722 or less, and if it goes above that, it will be reduced.
- You must be living in Australia with the child, and you must have a permanent visa, Australian citizenship, a special Category Visa, or a temporary visa, and the child living with you must have Australian citizenship, a Special Category visa, or a permanent visa.
- FTB Part B eligibility:
- You are responsible for the dependent child or child aged between 16 to 18 (Studying) and caring for the child as a grandparent or single parent.
- You are a member of a couple with primary income and are responsible for children under 13.
- You should be caring for the dependent child for at least 35% of their time.
- The income threshold for the FTB Part B is $120,007 or less, so having income above the threshold will make you ineligible for the Part B benefit.
- The residency rules for the Part B benefit are the same as those for Part A for children and applicants.
What is the FTB benefit rate?
With the Family Tax Benefit being split into two parts, your payment depends on the Part you qualified for; hence, to estimate your payment amount, you should check the benefit rates for both parts below:
- Part A:
- Base Rate for each child per fortnight: $72.64
- The maximum rate of Part A depends on the age of the child, so here the maximum rate as per age for each fortnight:
| Age | Fortnight payment |
| 0 to 12 years | $227.36 |
| 13 to 15 years | $295.82 |
| 16 to 19 years | $295.82 |
- If you qualify for the Part A supplement, you may receive the supplement of $916.15 for each eligible child.
- Part B:
- The maximum rate, depending on age, for each fortnight is:
| Age | Fortnight payment |
| 0 to 4 years | $193.34 |
| 5 to 18 years | $134.96 |
- The FTB Part B supplement rate for the 2024-25 FT was $448.95 per family, while for the 2025-26 FY, it is $459.90 per family.
How to claim the Family Tax Benefit?
If you qualify for the FTB and wish to claim the benefit, you can complete the online application in the following steps:
- Go to the Services Australia at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/how-to-claim-family-tax-benefit
- Next, you should have a myGov account, which is linked with Centrelink,
- You should gather the supporting documents, such as family income details, residence details, tax file numbers for you and your partners, and child adoption details (if that’s the case).
- Next, you will need to prove your identity with a Centrelink Customer Reference Number that you can get online, service center, or over the phone.
- Once verification is done, complete the application for the FTB and submit it on the online application portal.
Once your application is approved, you will start receiving payment based on your selection of lump sum or fortnightly payments.
The FTB benefit is a great support for families struggling with children’s expenses, from education to healthcare, so if you are eligible, claim the benefit and get the needed support.
Disclaimer: Centrelink FTB Part A & Part B details are for general awareness only. Eligibility and payment rules are determined by Services Australia.