Family Tax Benefit for Grandparent and Kinship Carers: FTB Part A and Part B Explained

The Main Payment Most Kinship Carers Start With

Family Tax Benefit is usually the first Centrelink payment a grandparent or kinship carer claims after a child moves in. It is a Commonwealth payment — it does not depend on DFFH endorsement, court orders, or child protection involvement. If you are physically caring for a child and meet the income test, you can claim it.

FTB has two parts that work differently, and understanding both matters because most kinship carers qualify for the combination.

FTB Part A — Per-Child Payment

Part A is the main per-child payment. It is income-tested against your adjusted taxable income, with rates varying by the child's age. Centrelink pays it fortnightly or as a lump sum at the end of the financial year.

The key eligibility rule for kinship carers: you need at least 35% care of the child during a fortnight. Centrelink calculates care percentage based on the number of nights the child is in your physical care. At 35%, you receive a proportional share of the full rate. At 100% care — which is typical for most kinship placements — you receive the full amount.

If the child's parent was previously receiving FTB, your claim triggers a care percentage reassessment. Centrelink contacts both parties. This is where having solid care evidence — school records, a GP letter, a statutory declaration — speeds up the process and avoids disputed claims dragging on.

FTB Part B — Extra Payment for Single Carers

Part B tops up Part A for single-income families and single carers. For 2026, single grandparent carers get the maximum rate when their adjusted taxable income is no more than $124,327.

Part B is income-tested against the secondary earner's income in a couple, with a lower threshold. For single carers, the secondary earner test does not apply — you qualify on the primary carer basis alone.

The Part B rate depends on the youngest child's age, with a higher rate for children under 5.

Newborn Supplement and Upfront Payment

If a child under one year of age enters your care, you may qualify for two additional amounts paid through FTB Part A:

• Newborn Supplement — paid over the first 13 weeks for a first child, or the first 13 weeks for subsequent children at a lower rate
• Newborn Upfront Payment — a one-off lump sum paid with the first FTB instalment

You may be eligible if you qualify for FTB Part A, the child stays in your care for at least 13 continuous weeks from the date you first become eligible for Newborn Supplement, and you are not getting Parental Leave Pay for the same child. When you claim FTB for the child, Services Australia checks whether you qualify; you do not need to make a separate claim. Grandparents who take on a newborn due to parental crisis often miss these because they do not realise the newborn payments apply to non-parent carers.

How to Claim as a Grandparent or Kinship Carer

You can claim FTB online through myGov linked to Centrelink, by phone, or at a service centre. The process for a non-parent carer is the same form as for a parent, but you need to establish the care arrangement.

Have these ready before you start:

• Your identity documents and Tax File Number
• The child's birth certificate or Medicare card number
• Evidence of care: school enrolment records, GP letters, a statutory declaration, or the Centrelink Details of your child's care arrangements form (FA012)
• Details of any income support you already receive (Age Pension, JobSeeker, Parenting Payment)

Call the Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers on 1800 245 965 before lodging if you are unsure. They can help identify relevant claims and schedule specialist appointments.

FTB and Other Payments

FTB Part A and B sit alongside other Centrelink payments, not instead of them. A grandparent on the Age Pension continues receiving it — FTB is paid on top. Similarly, if you are in a formal DFFH placement and receiving the state care allowance, the DFFH allowance is generally excluded from the FTB income test.

The Victoria Kinship Carer Support guide walks through the FTB claim step by step, including how care percentage works when the parent disputes the arrangement.

See more Victoria guides →