Last updated 9 July 2024

There are a number of Centrelink payments that both parents of children and certain children may be able to claim from Services Australia.

Youth Allowance

To receive Youth Allowance payments, a person must meet the following age eligibility criteria and be aged:

  • between 18 and 20 and studying full-time
  • between 16 and 24 and doing a full-time apprenticeship
  • 16 or 17 and are considered to be independent or required to live away from home to study
  • 16 or 17 and studying full time after completing secondary school.

People who are aged between 16 and 21 and are either looking for work or temporarily unable to work may be eligible for Youth Allowance for job seekers.

There are also a number of Australian residence rules, income tests and asset tests that must be met.

People who receive Youth Allowance may have limitations on the number of hours of paid work they can do and the amount they are able to earn per week.

For further information on Youth Allowance and to apply, see the Services Australia website.

ABSTUDY

ABSTUDY is a Centrelink payment available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to help with the cost of studying and training. Payments under the scheme can be used to help pay for school fees, boarding fees, living costs, travel costs or accessories such as books and stationery.

ABSTUDY is available in a number of circumstances:

  • Parents or guardians can claim for their child while in primary or high school and living at home.
  • Parents or guardians can claim for their child who lives away from home to go to school.
  • Students in high school, university or other higher education can claim for themselves.
  • People who are completing an apprenticeship can claim for themselves.

People must meet the Australian residence rules, income tests and assets tests before they can receive ABSTUDY.

For more information about ABSTUDY and to apply, see the Services Australia website.

Parenting payment

Parenting payment is the main income support payment that parents can receive while they are the main carer for a child.

To be eligible to receive the parenting payment, parents must meet all of the following criteria:

  • be under the income and asset test limits
  • meet the principal carer rules for a child under 14 years of age if they are a single parent, or under six years of age if they have a partner
  • meet the residence rules
  • their partner is not currently getting the parenting payment.

A parent will be considered a principal carer of a child if they have the most amount of responsibility for the child’s day-to-day care, welfare and development. If a child’s parents share equal care of a child, the parents must nominate who the principal carer is because only one parent can receive parenting payment.

Family Tax Benefit

Family Tax Benefit is a two-part payment that parents or guardians can claim to help with the cost of raising children. There are different eligibility criteria for Family Tax Benefit Part A and Family Tax Benefit Part B.

Parents may be eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A if they:

  • care for a dependent child at least 35% of the time who is either:
    • 0 to 15 years of age; or
    • 16 to 19 years of age and is completing full-time secondary school
  • meet the income test
  • meet the residence rules
  • meet the immunisation requirements.

Parents may be eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part B if they either:

  • rely on one main income to care for a dependent child aged under 13 at least 35% of the time or
  • are a single parent or a grandparent carer for a dependent child aged under 18 at least 35% of the time and
  • meet the income test
  • meet the residence rules.

For more information about Family Tax Benefit and to apply, see the Services Australia website.

Child Care Subsidy

The Child Care Subsidy payment is a payment made directly to a child-care provider to reduce fees that parents or guardians pay. Parents must meet the following eligibility criteria before they can get the child care subsidy:

  • care for a child who is 13 years of age or younger who is not attending secondary school, unless:
    • an exemption applies
    • the child requires supervision because they are under 13 years of age or are between 14 and 18 years of age and have a disability
  • use an approved child care service
  • be responsible for paying the child care fees
  • meet the residency requirements
  • meet the immunisation requirements.

Some parents and guardians may be eligible to receive additional child care subsidy if they are a grandparent of a child, transitioning to work or experiencing temporary financial hardship.

Services Australia consider the following to be approved child care services:

  • centre-based day care, including long day care and occasional care
  • family day car
  • outside school hours care including before, after and vacation care
  • in-home care (although different eligibility criteria apply).

For further information about child care subsidy and how to apply, see the Services Australia website.