Family and Child Benefits in Australia

Most migrants need to wait two years before they can apply for benefits. Some income tested benefits are available immediately.

In 2008-2009, these are as follows:

Family Tax Benefit Part A
This helps you with the cost of raising children and can be worth several thousand dollars per annum per child. Maximum payments are paid to people whose income is less than $42,559 per annum. Payments are also available to people on surprisingly high incomes.

Family Tax Benefit Part B
This gives single income families or sole parents an extra payment to help with the cost of raising children. It also gives extra help if your family has a child under the age of five years.

Maternity Payment
Maternity Payment is paid as a non-taxable lump sum payment. This benefit is worth $5,000 per child and is not income tested.

Child Care Benefit
Child Care Benefit is subject to an Income Test if you use Approved Care. Even people with high incomes will receive some benefit. Registered Care is not subject to an income test.

Remote Area Allowance
Remote Area Allowance is a non-taxable fortnightly payment of: Single - $18.20; Couple - $15.60 each; plus $7.30 for each dependent.

Details of these benefits are available in the document here and the web-page here.