Centrelink Grandparent Carer: Using Parenting Orders for Family Tax Benefit

Getting parenting orders sealed is a milestone — but for many grandparents, the immediate next question is how to translate those orders into financial support through Centrelink. A sealed parenting order is strong evidence of your care arrangement, but it is not a prerequisite for every payment; informal carers may also qualify if they meet the relevant rules.

What Parenting Orders Prove to Centrelink

Services Australia (Centrelink) can use parenting orders as formal evidence of the child's care arrangement and the percentage of time the child spends with you. Eligibility for Family Tax Benefit and Child Support depends on the care arrangement and the rules for each payment.

A sealed court order stating that the child "lives with" you is the clearest possible evidence. You present a certified copy of the sealed order at your local Centrelink office or upload it through your myGov account.

Payments You Can Access

Family Tax Benefit (FTB). FTB Part A is a per-child payment based on the child's age and your income. FTB Part B provides extra support for single-income families or carers. Non-parent carers who have physical care of a child for at least 35% of the time may be eligible for FTB Part A and Part B, subject to each payment's rules.

If care is shared — say the child spends four nights a week with you and three with a parent — Centrelink calculates each party's percentage when assessing FTB.

Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) — Grandparent. If you're a grandparent who is the primary carer of a grandchild, you may qualify for up to 100% of approved childcare fees covered. This is separate from the standard Child Care Subsidy and has its own eligibility criteria.

Parenting Payment. If you're raising a young child and meet the income test, you may qualify for Parenting Payment (Single or Partnered), depending on your relationship status and the child's age.

Double Orphan Pension. A non-means-tested payment for carers raising a child whose parents are both deceased, or where one parent is deceased and the other is incarcerated, missing or in long-term institutional care.

Child Support. Services Australia's Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers can explain Child Support assessment and exemption questions. Whether you can receive or seek child support depends on the applicable rules and your circumstances.

The Grandparent Adviser Line

Services Australia runs a dedicated support line for grandparent, foster and kinship carers: 1800 245 700. These are specialised officers who understand the specific payment rules for non-parent carers. They can help you:

• Lodge a care percentage claim using your parenting order
• Navigate Child Support assessments and exemptions
• Understand which payments you're eligible for
• Understand how Services Australia assesses care percentages

Call this number for help with non-parent care assessments, Family Tax Benefit and Child Support.

What to Bring

When you present your parenting orders to Centrelink (in person or online):

• A certified copy of the sealed court order — not a draft, not a photocopy of someone else's copy
• Your identity documents and the child's birth certificate
• Evidence of the child's current living arrangements if the order doesn't specify exact percentages
• Bank account details for payment

The Parenting Orders for Grandparents and Relatives guide covers the full post-order Centrelink hand-off, including how to handle care percentage disputes and what to do if a parent challenges your claim.

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