How to Prove Primary Care to Centrelink as a Kinship Carer

Why Care Evidence Matters So Much

Child-related Centrelink claims — including Family Tax Benefit, the Additional Child Care Subsidy (Grandparent), and the Foster Child Health Care Card — require evidence of care as well as meeting each program's other eligibility rules. For these claims, Services Australia assesses physical care rather than requiring a court order or DFFH endorsement.

When a grandparent or relative lodges a claim, Centrelink assesses the care percentage — the proportion of a fortnight the child spends in your care. At 35% care (roughly 5 out of 14 nights), you may receive a proportional share of FTB, subject to income and other eligibility rules. At 100%, you may receive the full rate, subject to those rules.

If the parent was previously receiving FTB for the same child, your claim triggers a disputed care process. That is where solid documentation is the difference between a smooth transfer and months of back-and-forth.

The Evidence Centrelink Accepts

Centrelink weighs multiple sources. No single document is mandatory, but the more you provide, the faster and more cleanly the claim processes.

Details of your child's care arrangements form (FA012) — use this form to give Services Australia information about the child's care arrangements. Ask the agency whether it needs this form for your claim and how to submit it.

Statutory Declaration — a witnessed legal declaration that you are the child's primary carer. If you have already completed one for school enrolment in Victoria (the Informal Carer Statutory Declaration), a copy works here too.

School enrolment records — a letter from the school confirming the child is enrolled and you are listed as the primary contact and emergency contact. Ask the school office for a confirmation letter on school letterhead.

GP or medical records — a letter from the child's doctor confirming you are the person who brings the child to appointments and makes healthcare decisions. If you have registered with the GP practice as the primary carer, this is straightforward.

Other supporting documents: child's mail addressed to your home, Medicare records showing your address, receipts for school uniforms or childcare, any correspondence from DFFH or a community agency acknowledging your caring role.

What Happens When the Parent Disputes

If the parent contacts Centrelink and disputes your care claim, a "disputed care" process begins. Centrelink asks both parties to complete forms describing the care arrangement. Each side submits evidence.

Services Australia assesses care based on the evidence it gathers. Ask how it will handle your payment while the care assessment is underway.

To protect yourself in a dispute:

• Lodge your evidence as early as possible — do not wait for Centrelink to ask
• Keep a log of the dates the child sleeps at your home
• Save text messages or written communications with the parent about the care arrangement
• Ask the school and GP to provide their records confirming your role

If the dispute is difficult to navigate, call the Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers on 1800 245 965 to ask what care evidence to provide. You can also request a formal review of a decision through Centrelink's internal review process, and then apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal if needed.

Building Your Evidence File From Day One

The strongest position is building your documentation from the moment the child arrives, not when Centrelink asks for it. Start a folder — physical or digital — and collect:

• The witnessed Statutory Declaration
• School enrolment confirmation letter
• GP registration confirmation
• The Centrelink Details of your child's care arrangements form (FA012), if requested
• A simple log of dates and nights the child is in your care

This folder serves triple duty: Centrelink claims, school paperwork, and the Victorian Carer Card application all draw from the same evidence.

The Victoria Kinship Carer Support guide includes a proof-of-care checklist and a claim-by-claim breakdown of which evidence each Centrelink payment needs.

See more Victoria guides →