Understanding Benefits: Rent Assistance

What is it?

Rent Assistance gives extra help to you if you receive more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A, and pay rent to private landlords.

Who is eligible?

You may also be able to get help if you pay:

• lodging, or board and lodging;
• site fees (eg. caravan, mobile home);
• mooring fees for a boat or vessel that you live in.

Rent Assistance is generally not paid to people who pay rent to a government housing authority (such as a Housing Commission), own or are buying the home in which they live (except for mobile and relocatable homes), are getting Incentive Allowance, or pay less than the threshold amount of rent.

How much is it?

Rent Assistance is paid at the rate of 75 cents for each dollar of rent paid above the rent threshold, up to specified maximum rates. The rate of Rent Assistance depends on how many children you have, and whether you are partnered or single.

Maximum fortnightly payments range from $122.22 for a single person with one child up to $138.18 for a couple with 3 or more children. These rates are a guide only. For an estimate on how much you may be able to claim, use the online Family Assistance Estimator.

How do I get it?

Rent Assistance is paid along with your Family Tax Benefit. You can choose to get your Rent Assistance as fortnightly payments even if you choose to defer all of your Family Tax Benefit until after the end of the income (financial) year.

Rent Assistance cannot be paid through the tax system.

In order to claim rent assistance, you'll need to supply the Family Assistance Office with a copy of your current lease or tenancy agreement.

Source: Family Assistance Office

Understanding Benefits: Large Family Supplement

What is it?

Large Family Supplement is an extra payment to assist families with three or more children.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for the Large Family Supplement you must have three or more children for whom you receive Family Tax Benefit.


How much is it?

You can receive a Large Family Supplement of $9.80 a fortnight (that's $255.50 per year) for each child after the second. This is paid on top of your Family Tax Benefit. Therefore four children equals an additional $19.60, five children $29.40, etc.


How do I apply?

You do not need to make a separate claim for Large Family Supplement, as it will be paid as part of your Family Tax Benefit. If you are eligible and are not already receiving Large Family Supplement as part of your Family Tax Benefit, you should contact the Family Assistance Office.





Source: Family Assistance Office

Parenting, Housework, Employment and Not Enough Hours in the Day

If you're a mother who feels like she is constantly picking up after everyone else, you probably are!

According to a recent facts sheet released by the Australian Institute of Family Studies to support National Families Week 2007, mothers with a child under 5 spend an average of 23 hours a week doing housework. And it doesn't end when the kids go to school. The figures indicate that mums with a youngest child 5-14 years old are still putting in 20 hours a week on household chores.

Dads aren't getting off the hook either with most contributing an additional 6 hours each week to the housework.

You'd think we all lived in spotless homes! Still, I can attest to the fact that one can clean all day and still have it look the same as it did when you first started just 10 short minutes after the kids walk in the door.

Considering that,
38% of mothers with an infant are employed
54% of mothers with a 4-5 year old are employed, and
the employment rates of fathers with an infant and those with a 4-5 year old are both over 90%.

it is no surprise we are also feeling rushed and pressured for time; a significant source of stress for families.

Child Care Budget Changes #2

The second 2007-08 Budget initiative relating to child care comes in the form of changes to the way parents currently claim the child care tax rebate.

2. The Government will bring forward payment of the Child Care Tax Rebate (CCTR) and pay it through the Family Assistance Office (FAO) at the end of each financial year. This means eligible families will receive the rebate soon after the end of the financial year - a lot easier than the current way of having to wait and claim it the following year.

Who will benefit?

The change will benefit all working families who receive CCB for approved child care. These families will now be able to receive a payment equivalent to 30% of their out-of-pocket expenses up to $4,000 indexed per child per year for approved child care at an earlier time. The payments will begin from September 2007 for child care expenses incurred in the 2006-07 year.

Good News!

Families who incurred child care expenses in both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 years will receive two rebates in 2007-08, potentially totalling up to $8,000 (indexed) per child! The first rebate will be received as part of their tax assessment, while the second will be received as a direct payment from the FAO.

How do I get it?

For child care costs incurred in 2005-06 you still need to keep your paperwork and claim the Child Care Tax Rebate (CCTR) in your 2006-07 tax return. For child care costs incurred after 1 July 2006 the FAO will pay the CCTR directy into your bank account after you have lodged your tax return.

Understanding Benefits: Maternity Payment

This will be the first in a series of posts outlining the various Centrelink and Family Assistance payments.

What is the Maternity Payment?

Maternity Payment is a one-off amount paid to families following the birth (including stillborn) or adoption of a baby. The payment replaces the former Maternity Allowance and the ATO's Baby Bonus. The Maternity Payment is not income tested and is given to help out with those initial expenses after the addition of a new child.

How much is it?

Maternity Payment is a one-off payment of $4,133 for each child and is usually paid as a lump sum. If the recipient is under 17 years, the payment will probably be staggered over a period of 13 weeks. The amount is payable for each child in a multiple birth (that's $8,266 for twins). Changes in care during the 13 weeks eligibility period could result in the payment being apportioned between two carers.

Does it affect tax or benefits?

The good news is that Maternity Payment is not taxable income and it is not considered income for Family Assistance or Social Security purposes either.

How do I get it?

More than likely, the hospital will send you home with a claim form aswell as your new bundle of joy. If that is not the case, you can claim online using online services or call 13 6150 to have a claim form sent out to you.

You must apply for Maternity Payment within 26 weeks of the birth of your own child. Application requirements for adoptions can differ slightly so it is best to check this first with the Family Assistance Office.

No Time for the Centrelink Queue: Register for Family Assistance Online

If you haven't yet discovered Online Services at the Family Assistance site, it is well worth the effort to register. Save yourself the time and frustration of queuing up at Centrelink for simple matters.

After a secure login, you are able to view and update your information aswell as access payment history, apply for certain benefits and view the important correspondence your dog ate.

Registering is relatively simple and you only have to do it the one time. Goodness knows, it has to be less painful than standing in a line trailing out the door for 2 hours just to notify a stressed-out public servant that your child has changed preschools!

Check out the Family Assistance site to get the ball rolling. I promise you'll be glad you did.