Family Tax Benefit Part A & B Explained (2026-27 Rates)

What Is Family Tax Benefit?

FTB Part A is paid for each eligible child; Part B is a family payment for eligible single parents or carers and some couples. Residence, care, age and income tests apply. Part A may be paid alongside PPL, subject to income and other rules. FTB Part B is not payable on days you or your partner receive Parental Leave Pay.

FTB Part A Rates (2026-27)

The base rate is $75.60 per child per fortnight. It is not a guaranteed minimum: income and other rules can reduce payment below it or to zero. Shared care and maintenance, immunisation and school requirements may affect the amount. Official Part A rates.

FTB Part B Rates (2026-27)

Ordinary partnered families need a youngest child under 13. Single parents and eligible grandparent carers can qualify until the end of the year the youngest child turns 18, with full-time secondary study required at ages 16–18. These maximum rates do not override the income or care tests. Official Part B rates.

Income Tests Explained

Part A

For 2026-27, family adjusted taxable income of $69,131 or less may qualify for the maximum rate. Between $69,131 and $123,078, the income test reduces Part A by 20 cents per dollar above $69,131, down to the base rate. Above $123,078, a 30-cent-per-dollar test applies until entitlement is nil. The final cut-off depends on children’s ages and number, and other entitlements. Maintenance income rules can also apply. Part A income test.

Part B

A single parent’s or carer’s adjusted taxable income must be $124,327 or less. For couples, the primary earner must be at or below $124,327; the secondary earner can earn $7,154 before Part B reduces by 20 cents per additional dollar. Some Part B may remain below secondary income of $35,661 with a youngest child under 5, or $27,777 with an eligible older child. Part B income test.

Supplement and Newborn Payments

For 2026-27, the annual Part A supplement is up to $970.90 per eligible child; family adjusted taxable income must be $80,000 or less. The Part B supplement is up to $478.15 per family. Supplements are assessed after balancing and depend on eligible days, care and other requirements.

Current newborn amounts are an upfront $708 per child and a supplement over up to 13 weeks of up to $2,125.76 for a first child or $709.80 for subsequent children. Amounts and eligibility depend on FTB Part A and your circumstances. Neither the Newborn Upfront Payment nor Newborn Supplement is available if you or your partner receive PPL for the same child. See newborn rates and newborn eligibility.

Visa Holder Eligibility

Permanent residents and eligible temporary visa holders, including 820/309 partner visa holders, can meet FTB residence rules directly. You and your child must meet the residence rules; having an eligible partner is not the only route.

For relevant visas granted from 1 January 2019, Part A generally has a 52-week NARWP; Part B has no NARWP. For current or former 820/309 holders, Part A can count periods of Australian presence after the relevant partner application; earlier visits need assessment and must not be silently excluded. Overseas days do not count. Exemptions may apply. Another parent who independently qualifies may claim even while you wait. FTB Part A NARWP rules.

Children’s immunisation records

Part A can be reduced if immunisation or applicable Healthy Start for School requirements are not met. If your child was immunised overseas, bring the records to an Australian vaccination provider so the Australian Immunisation Register can be updated. Ask about recognised exemptions where relevant, rather than assuming an overseas record is already on the register.

How to Claim FTB

• Check residence, child care and income requirements before estimating an amount.
• Gather identity, visa, child, immunisation, bank and income documents.
• Lodge through myGov linked to Centrelink; provide rent details if relevant.
• Choose instalments based on estimated income or an eligible lump-sum claim after year end, within the claim deadline.
• Confirm actual income and lodge tax returns or advise non-lodgement as required.

Use the Centrelink Calculator for an estimate and Services Australia for claims and current rules. A lump-sum claim reduces estimation uncertainty but does not remove every possibility of adjustment or debt.

Documents and online claim steps

Have your Centrelink Customer Reference Number, relevant identity and visa evidence, children’s details and birth records, your and your partner’s tax file numbers where required, income estimates and bank details ready. If seeking Rent Assistance, have your tenancy and current rent information available.

1. Sign in to myGov and open your linked Centrelink account.
2. Choose “Make a claim”, then the family-payment option.
3. Complete the family, care, income and residence questions; upload the requested evidence.
4. Keep the claim receipt and monitor requests for more information.
5. Report changes in income, care, relationship or residence circumstances promptly.

Instalments or lump sum?

Fortnightly instalments can help current cash flow but rely on estimated annual income. An eligible lump-sum claim after the year ends uses known income, so it may suit families with variable earnings who can wait. In either case, check the claim and income-confirmation deadlines and respond to balancing requests.

Rent Assistance with FTB

If you get more than the base rate of FTB Part A and pay qualifying rent, you may also qualify for Rent Assistance. It depends on rent, accommodation and family circumstances; supply your current rental details. Rates are indexed separately from FTB. Check current Rent Assistance rates rather than using an older financial-year amount.

Earlier visits: check the payment-specific rule

The Services Australia summary uses the later of partner application and arrival to live. However, Family Assistance Act section 61AA(3)-(4) and Paid Parental Leave Act section 31A(2)-(3) count periods of Australian presence after the relevant application for specified partner-visa routes. Earlier post-application visits must not automatically be discarded just because they preceded a move to live here.

Keep all visit, application and grant dates, not only the settlement date. Ask Services Australia which days count for FTB Part A (52 weeks), PPL (104 weeks) or Special Benefit (normally 208 weeks) under your actual visa history. The DSS start rules distinguish those payments from payments requiring Australian residence. Physical presence alone does not establish entitlement.

Newborn payments depend on FTB Part A eligibility and their own rules. PPL also has birth/adoption timing, residence, work and income tests. Special Benefit has separate means, hardship and qualification rules. JobSeeker and Parenting Payment do not automatically receive partner-application credit. In the countdown, answer Yes or I am not sure for earlier presence: affected dates are withheld for assessment. This avoids both a falsely late date and an unsupported earlier entitlement date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is Family Tax Benefit Part A per child?

From 1 July 2026, maximum fortnightly Part A rates are $235.48 for ages 0–12 and $306.46 for ages 13–15 or 16–19 meeting study requirements. The base rate is $75.60, but the actual payment can be lower. Income, care and other rules apply.

Can visa holders get Family Tax Benefit in Australia?

Eligible permanent and specified temporary visa holders, including 820/309 holders, may claim if they meet residence and other requirements. Part A generally has a 52-week NARWP for relevant post-2019 visa grants, with exemptions; Part B has no NARWP.

What is the income test for Family Tax Benefit Part A?

The 2026-27 lower income threshold is $69,131, with a 20-cent taper above it down to the base rate. Above $123,078, a 30-cent taper applies. Final cut-offs depend on the family and other applicable tests.

Can single parents get FTB Part B regardless of income?

No. In 2026-27 a single parent or carer needs adjusted taxable income of $124,327 or less, as well as meeting the other eligibility rules.

Can I receive FTB while getting Parental Leave Pay?

FTB Part A may remain payable, subject to income and other tests. FTB Part B is not payable on days you or your partner receive Parental Leave Pay. Neither newborn payment is available with PPL for the same child.

Do I need to claim FTB or is it automatic?

You must lodge a claim. You can choose eligible fortnightly payments or a lump-sum claim after the financial year, subject to claim deadlines and balancing requirements.