www.raisinggrandchildren.com.au

Federal Government - Centrelink Assistance

Frequently asked Questions

1. Where do I go for support payments?

2. How will I know if I’m eligible for support payments?

3. What Family Assistance can I receive?

4. What is the Family Tax Benefit?

5. What is the Child Care Benefit?

6. Are there special benefits for grandparents raising babies?

7. Can I claim the Double Orphan Pension for my grandchildren?

8. Are we eligible for a Health Care Card?

9. Can I receive Medicare payments for my grandchild’s medical bills?

10. What if my grandchild has a disability?

11. Can I receive a Parenting Payment?

12. What happens when my grandchild turns 15?

13. Can Centrelink help if there is a financial crisis in our family?

14. What if I have problems with Centrelink and need assistance?

1. Where do I go for support payments?

For pensions, benefits and allowances Centrelink 13 021 is where you go. Centrelink offices have social workers who are trained to help you. It is best to phone and make an appointment with the social worker so that you can sit down together and talk about your needs. She/he will help you fill in forms and will work with you over a period of time to ensure you receive any monies available to you.

If you prefer to find out information for yourself the Family Assistance Office tel 13 6150 is the best place to start. You can visit an office situated in Medicare, Centrelink Customer Service Centres or any Tax Office shopfronts.

You can also pick up a booklet from Centrelink – Are you a Grandparent (or relative) caring for Children – which will provide clear information.

2. How will I know if I’m eligible for support payments?

Centrelink tel 13 6150 will be able to advise you as to your eligibility.

The Australian Government makes benefits and payments available whether your grandchildren have come into your care through a formal court order or you have made an informal or voluntary arrangement within your family.

If you have the day to day care and responsibility of your grandchildren you may be entitled to assistance. You may also be able to claim Medicare benefits for medical expenses incurred by your grandchildren.

3. What Family Assistance can I receive?

You will find there are a range of benefits and allowances available which is why it is important to sit down with a social worker at Centrelink or the Family Assistance Office and discuss your entitlements.

Amongst those available are:

- Family Tax Benefit Part A and Part B

- Baby Bonus

- Maternity Immunisation Allowance

- Double Orphan Pension

4. What is the Family Tax Benefit?

Family Tax Benefit (FTB) comes in two parts:

Family Tax Benefit Part A is a payment to help families cope with the costs of children. It is what you might have known as ‘child endowment’ or ‘family payment’ when you were raising your own children. The amount paid varies according to your income and is paid for each child. It is not asset tested.

Family Tax Benefit Part B is an additional payment designed to give extra help to sole parent families and families with one main income. It is worked out according to the age of the youngest child, and the income of a family’s lowest income earner.

Not all grandparents choose to apply for FTB and in some families the children’s parents find these benefits hard to relinquish. Sometimes there are ‘shared custody’ arrangements made within families and in these situations the FTB is also shared. It is important to note that if the children are in your full care and control you have a right to apply for FTB.

If the children are no longer living with their parents then the parents have no right to receive the payments. The Family Assistance Office will want to know how many hours the children spend within each family if you wish to establish a ‘shared custody’ arrangement.

Payments

You can choose whether to receive your FTB in fortnightly installments or in a lump sum after the end of the financial year. The Family Assistance Office will help you with this decision.

5. What is the Child Care Benefit?

Child Care Benefit is paid to help with the cost of child care in an approved or registered child care facility. It can be claimed as either reduced child care fees or as a lump sum payment.

Child Care Benefit is only available through the Family Assistance Office tel 13 6150.

If you are a grandparent with day to day care of your grandchild you may be entitled to extra assistance with the costs of approved child care in the form of a Grandparent Child Care Benefit.

This covers the full cost of approved childcare for up to 50 hours per child per week for grandparent carers who receive an income support payment from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

6. Are there special benefits for grandparents raising babies?

There are two one-off payments that you may be able to receive:

- Maternity Payment helps with the costs of a new baby within 13 weeks of birth if you are likely to continue with caring for the baby for a further 13 weeks or more. It is not subject to an income test and must be claimed within 26 weeks of birth.

- Maternity Immunisation Allowance is a non-income tested payment designed to encourage the immunisation of children. It is paid for fully immunised children between 18 and 24 months of age or for children exempt from immunisation requirements. Ask your doctor or health clinic about the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register to find out whether you may be eligible.

7. Can I claim the Double Orphan Pension for my grandchildren?

The Double Orphan Pension is available for children where:

- both parents or adoptive parents have died, or

- one parent has died and the other is in an institution - a prison, psychiatric hospital or nursing home or is missing and unable to be contacted, or

- the children are refugees and both parents are either outside Australia or their location is not known

8. Are we eligible for a Health Care Card?

With a Health Care Card you receive concessions on health care and prescription medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the children in your care. If you are receiving a pension you may be able to put your grandchildren onto your Pensioner Concession Card if you are also receiving Family Tax Benefit. If you receive the maximum Family Tax Benefit Part A you should automatically receive a Health Care Card. If you are not on the maximum benefit you may be able to get a Low Income Health Care Card.

You can claim for a separate ‘foster child Health Care Card' (read A guide to Centrelink Concession Cards) for your grandchild.

This card is held in the name of your grandchild and you will not be subject to an asset or income test. It is available through the Family Assistance Office tel 13 61 50 whether you have a formal (court order) or informal (within the family) arrangement regarding your grandchildren.

9. Can I receive Medicare payments for my grandchild’s medical bills?

Yes – you can claim Medicare benefits for medical expenses paid out for your grandchild even if the child is not registered on your Medicare card. As long as you have a receipt in your name you will be able to make a claim. For enquiries phone Medicare tel 13 2011.

Some things to know:
Children can be copied on to more than one Medicare card.
To arrange this you need to fill out a Copy/Transfer Form available:

Online - visit www.medicareaustralia.gov.au to print off a form
In person - at your local Medicare office
Over the phone - phone 132 011 to ask for a form to be posted

When a child is 15 years or over she/he can have their own Medicare card.

If you have any problems regarding Medicare and the claiming of bills ring Medicare 13 2011 and ask for the Public Relations section.

10. What if my grandchild has a disability?

If your grandchild has a severe illness or disability that is permanent or likely to be present for an extended time then you may be able to get a Carer Allowance. You may also qualify for a Carer Allowance Health Card.

There is also a Carer Payment in addition to Carer Allowance for grandparents caring for a profoundly disabled child.

For more information about all of these payments phone Centrelink on 13 27 17

11. Can I receive a Parenting Payment?

If you are on a low income, whether you are single, married or in a defacto relationship you may be able to claim a Parenting Payment.

There are two categories of Parenting payments for single and partnered parents – phone Centrelink on 13 6150 to make enquiries.

12. What happens when my grandchild turns 15?

Your grandchild may be eligible for the independent rate of Youth Allowance.

To discuss the conditions under which this payment is made contact a Centrelink Customer Service Centre or tel 13 2490.

There is also a booklet 'Are you a parent or guardian?' available from all Centrelink Customer Service Centres or tel 13 6150. This provides clear information regarding entitlements.

13. Can Centrelink help if there is a financial crisis in our family?

Centrelink has a Financial Information Service officer available to provide more information on financial issues. For more information tel 13 23 00.

14. What if I have problems with Centrelink and need assistance?

The Welfare Rights Centre can advise you in relations to problems regarding Centrelink. They are a free and independent legal centre providing information, advice and advocacy.

Telephone 02 9211 5300 or 1800 226028