Family Tax Benefit: the payment you could miss

If you have children and live in Australia, there's a good chance the government is willing to pay you a monthly amount — and you haven't applied yet.

The Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is one of the most important payments for families with children in Australia, but it remains one of the least known among recently arrived immigrants from South America. Not because it's complicated to understand, but because nobody told them it exists.

What is the Family Tax Benefit?

It's a payment from the Australian federal government designed to help families with the costs of raising children. It's divided into two parts with different purposes:

FTB Part A is the main payment, paid per child. The amount depends on family income and the number of children. The lower the income, the higher the payment — but even families with moderate income may be entitled to something.

FTB Part B is a supplement paid per family, aimed at families with a single income earner, or where one parent works few days a week or stays home to care for the children. It's also accessible to single-parent families.

Who is eligible — the visa question

This is the part that causes the most confusion — partly because the rules are different for Part A and Part B.

I just got my PR — am I immediately eligible?

For FTB Part B: yes, immediate access. FTB Part B has no waiting period for permanent residents. As soon as PR is granted, you can apply.

For FTB Part A: it depends. Part A may have a waiting period of up to 1 year after arriving in Australia as a resident — the so-called NARWP. But there are important exemptions.

This applies to all the most common permanent residence visas among South American immigrants: 189, 190, 186, 820/801, 309/100, and others.

If your PR was just approved: apply for Part B immediately. For Part A, check whether you qualify for any NARWP exemptions.

What is the NARWP and when does it apply?

The Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period (NARWP) is a waiting period the Australian government applies before releasing certain payments. For FTB Part A, this period can be 1 year for new permanent residents.

This means that anyone who received PR after January 2019 may have to wait 1 year for Part A — except in exemption situations.

NARWP exemptions for FTB Part A (immediate access even with recent PR):

• Holders or former holders of a temporary protection visa
• Holders of a Special Category visa (subclass 444 — New Zealand citizens)
• Those already receiving another eligible Centrelink payment
• Those who experienced a substantial change in circumstances (e.g. domestic violence, death of sponsoring partner)

I'm in the PR process — what now?

Until PR is granted, access to FTB depends on the temporary visa you hold. Part B may be available immediately for partner visas (309, 820), while Part A depends on the NARWP.

Visas that do NOT qualify for FTB

• Student visa (subclass 500)
• Tourist/visitor visa (subclass 600)
• Temporary work visa (482 — TSS)
• Working Holiday visa (subclasses 417 and 462)
• Training visa (407)
• Visa 491 / 494 — prior to conversion to PR

If your visa is not listed above or you're unsure whether you qualify, visit the Services Australia website or call Centrelink. They can confirm your eligibility based on your visa number at no cost.

How much can my family receive?

Amounts are set per fortnight. The table below shows the maximum rates for 2025–2026:

FTB Part A — per child, per fortnight

FTB Part B — per family, per fortnight

Income limits

FTB Part A

• Up to AUD 65,189/year: maximum rate
• Above AUD 65,189: reduced by 20 cents per dollar
• Above AUD 94,316: reduced by 30 cents per dollar from the base rate
• Approximate cut-off: AUD 122,190 for 1 child (0–12 years)

FTB Part B (couples)

• Secondary earner income up to AUD 6,935/year: maximum rate
• Above that: progressive reduction
• Approximate cut-off: AUD 33,653 (youngest child under 5)

Annual supplement: families with income up to AUD 80,000 may receive an additional supplement of up to AUD 938.05 per child (Part A) and AUD 459.90 per family (Part B), paid at tax return time.

Interactive calculator

Use the calculator below to estimate the monthly amount based on your situation. Select a quick scenario or adjust the controls manually.

Reference scenarios

Scenario 1 — Newly arrived family with PR, low income

Profile: Couple, 1 child aged 4. One parent works (AUD 45,000/year), the other is at home.

Note: Part B is immediate. Part A may have up to 1 year waiting period depending on when PR was granted.

Scenario 2 — Couple with two children and moderate income

Profile: Couple, 2 children (aged 6 and 9). Combined income of AUD 90,000/year.

*Secondary earner income above AUD 6,935 eliminates Part B for couples.

Scenario 3 — Single-parent family with 1 child

Profile: Single parent, 1 child aged 7. Annual income of AUD 55,000.

Single-parent families have access to Part B until the child turns 18 (if in secondary education). For couples, the limit is 13 years.

Scenario 4 — Higher-income family

Profile: Couple, 2 children (aged 5 and 8). Combined income of AUD 130,000/year.

Even with higher income, there's still a payment to receive. Many families in this bracket assume they're not entitled — and leave over AUD 1,000 per year on the table.

Scenario 5 — Family on temporary visa (before PR)

Profile: Couple with 1 child, holders of a partner visa (820). Arrived 2 years ago.

Mark in your calendar the moment the NARWP expires or PR is granted so you can apply immediately.

If you also have a young child in care, check how the Child Care Subsidy can cover up to 90% of the cost.

How to apply

The application is made through myGov, linked to Centrelink.

Fortnightly payment or annual lump sum

Fortnightly: estimated amount paid regularly. Better for cash flow, but requires keeping your income updated with Centrelink.

Lump sum: receive everything at tax return time. Simpler, but you go without the money during the year.

If your income is predictable, fortnightly payments are generally more advantageous.

Impact on your tax return

Every year, Centrelink reconciles what was paid against the family's actual income. If you received more than you should have, you may need to repay part of it. If you received less, you get the difference. Always update your income estimate with Centrelink when there are significant changes.

The most common mistake: waiting

If your PR just came through: apply for Part B this week. There is no waiting period for it. Every week without applying is money you won't get back.

For Part A, check whether you have any NARWP exemption — and if not, have everything ready to apply as soon as the waiting period ends.

Summary