The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 2005

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 5 December 2005 (v1.70)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
4.3.9.10 Circumstances for Receiving an Advance Added information relating to customers with a child support debt not qualifying for an FTB advance.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 7 November 2005 (v1.69)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
2.1.1.25 Shared Care of an FTB Child Clarified policy especially in relation to sharing FTB between a separated couple for a period prior to separation.
3.1.5.70 Exemptions from the Maintenance Action Test Removed example 3 under parentage of child conceived through AIP.
3.1.6.55 Child Support Case Ended - Payer not a Parent of the Child New topic.
3.2.4 Target Foreign Income Included foreign income figures for July 2005.
4.4.6 FTB Child - Claim for Pension or Benefit Pending Clarified policy in relation to dated of effect of cancellation and a rejected claim that would affect FTB entitlement.
8.1.10 Saved Rate of FTB Part A for DVA Disability or War Widow/Widower Pensions Clarified policy.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 4 October 2005 (v1.68)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
1.1.S.05 Salary sacrificing (CCB) New topic.
2.6.1 CCB Eligibility Criteria for Individuals Updated information relating to liability to pay for child care.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 20 September 2005 (v1.67)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
1.1.I.70 Income thresholds (CCB) Updated rates.
1.1.M.30 Maximum weekly entitlement (CCB) Updated rates.
1.1.M.60 Minimum hourly rate (CCB) Updated rate.
1.1.S.100 Standard hourly rate (CCB) Updated rates.
3.1.4.30 Rent Assistance Updated rates.
3.3 MPY Rate Updated rate and added information on indexation in relation to adopted children.
3.4 MIA Rate Updated rate.
3.5.1 CCB Entitlement - General Provisions Updated rates.
3.5.2.20 Calculating the Approved Care Adjustment Percentage Updated rates.
3.6.2 FTB Rent Assistance - Historical Rates & Thresholds Updated historical rates and thresholds.
3.6.4 MAT, MPY & MIA - Historical Rates Updated historical rates.
3.6.5.10 CCB - Historical Standard Hourly Rate Updated historical rates.
3.6.5.20 CCB - Historical Income Thresholds Updated historical income thresholds.
3.6.5.30 CCB - Historical Maximum Weekly Benefit Updated historical rates.
3.6.5.40 CCB- Historical Maximum Weekly Entitlement Updated historical rates.
4.6.4.20 Minimum Rate CCB as Reduced Fees - Rest at End of Year Updated rates.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 1 July 2005 (v1.66)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
1.1.M.27 Maximum weekly benefit (CCB) Updated rates.
2.1.1.85 Foster Care of an FTB Child Clarified that 14 week qualification period is not intended to apply in circumstances where the child is taken by state or territory welfare authorities.
2.1.2.10 Residence Requirements Included details of new Removal Pending Bridging visa.
2.4.1 Eligibility for MPY Included changes to MPY eligibility for adoptive parents.
2.4.2 Apportioning of MPY Included changes to MPY eligibility for adoptive parents.
3.1 FTB Rate Calculation Included FTB Part B supplement.
3.1.1.10 Calculating a Rate of FTB - Overview Included FTB Part B supplement.
3.1.1.20 Current FTB Rates & Income Test Amounts Included information relating to FTB Part B supplement and updated rates.
3.1.1.40 Calculating FTB Bereavement Payment Changed term 'income year' to 'financial year'.
3.1.1.60 Indexation of FTB Included FTB Part B supplement.
3.1.2 FTB Rate for ACOs Add that FTB Part A Supplement cannot be paid to ACOs and updated rate.
3.1.4.10 Method 1 - Calculating the Maximum Rate of FTB Part A Removed information relating to the higher income free area.
3.1.4.30 Rent Assistance Updated policy in relation to eligibility requirements and included information relating to duplicate RA payments.
3.1.4.40 Income Test - FTB Part A Method 1 Updated policy in relation to the higher income free area.
3.1.5.50 Reasonable Maintenance Action Completed Changed term 'income year' to 'financial year'.
3.1.7.10 Maintenance Income Test - General Provisions Changed term 'income year' to 'financial year'.
3.1.7.13 Capitalised Maintenance Changed term 'income year' to 'financial year'.
3.1.7.15 Relevant Period Changed term 'income year' to 'financial year'.
3.1.7.20 Estimating of Maintenance Income Changed term 'income year' to 'financial year'.
3.1.7.21 Routine Assessment Method (FTB) Changed term 'income year' to 'financial year'.
3.1.7.22 Actual Assessment Method Changed term 'income year' to 'financial year'.
3.1.7.30 Application of the Maintenance Income Test Changed term 'income year' to 'financial year'.
3.1.9.10 Calculating FTB Part B Clarified explanation for effect on FTB Part B where youngest child is 16 years or over.
3.1.9.30 FTB Part B Quarantining New topic.
3.2.6 Tax Free Pensions or Benefits Revised explanation for payments that are included for purposes of calculating ATI and added SRCA payments to tax-free pension or benefits that are not included.
3.5.2.40 Calculating the Approved Care Taxable Income Percentage Updated rates.
3.5.2.50 Calculating the Approved Care Multiple Child Percentage Updated rates.
3.5.2.70 CCB Adjustment Percentage Example - 1 Child, Income below Upper Threshold Updated rates.
3.5.2.80 CCB Adjustment Percentage Example - 4 Children, Income above Upper Threshold Updated rates.
3.5.2.90 CCB Adjustment Percentage Example - 2 Children, Income above Upper Threshold Updated rates.
3.6.1 FTB Part A - Historical Rates Updated rates.
3.6.3 FTB Part B - Historical Rates Updated rates.
3.6.4 Mat, MPY & MIA - Historical Rates Updated rates and added MPY historical rates.
4.3.1.20 FTB Payment Choices for Instalment Customers Clarified policy.
4.4.8 Review of FTB - Child Turning 16,18 or 21 Clarified policy.
4.5.1 Claims for MAT, MPY & MIA Updated policy in relation to adoption and bereavement.
6.4.1.30 Reconciliation Process Included information on FTB Part B supplement.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 6 June 2005 (v1.65)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
3.1.3 Apportioning Income Test Reductions between FTB Part A Rate Components Added a detailed example of apportioning the FTB components.
3.1.4.30 Rent Assistance Highlighted that rent assistance is included in calculating the maximum rate of FTB Part A.
3.1.6.50 Child Support Agreements Added that an agreement does not meet the maintenance action test where an agreement specifies that arrears are to be discharged.
3.1.7.11 Assessable Maintenance Income Added guidelines for making decisions as to whether a non-cash maintenance should be assessed as maintenance.
3.3 MPY Rate Updated rate.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 2 May 2005 (v1.64)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
1.1.A.75 Approved absences (CCB) Updated specific reasons for approved absences.
6.4.3.10 Valid Reasons for Not Lodging a Tax Return Updated policy.
6.4.4.20 Treatment of Ex-partners Under Reconciliation Added new material on timing of reconciliation when ex-partner does not lodge a tax return.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 4 April 2005 (v1.63)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
8.1.7 FTB Transfers - Residence & Portability Updated timeframes relating to temporary absences.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 22 March 2005 (v1.62)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
1.1.Q.10 Qualifying period (FTB) Added that family tax benefit continues to be paid to the original carer in the qualifying period.
2.6.2.10 FTB Child Exceptions for CCB Clarified family tax benefit child exceptions for child care benefit in relation to grandparents.
2.6.3.10 Eligibility Requirements for Up to 50 Hours CCB Clarified exception to work/training/study test for grandparents.
3.1.6.50 Child Support Agreements Included information relating to future changes in an agreement and agreements that specify a period of backdating.
3.3 MAT & MPY Rate Updated rate for maternity payment and removed references to maternity allowance.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 7 March 2005 (v1.61)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
1.1.P.20 Parenting plan, parenting order, parenting responsibility (FTB) Revised definition of parental responsibility.
2.1.2.10 Residence Requirements Added visa subclass 787 Temporary Witness Protection (Trafficking) to the table under the heading Exception to residence requirement for FTB.
3.1.4.30 Rent Assistance Updated rates.
3.2.5 Net Rental Property Loss Clarified net rental property loss treatment from partnerships and trusts.
3.6.2 FTB Rent Assistance - Historical Rates & Thresholds Updated rates.
4.6.2 Approved Care CCB - Individual's Claim Updated policy in relation to lump sum claims.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 7 February 2005 (v1.60)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
1.2.2 Maternity Payment (MPY) - Description Clarified policy in relation to payment of MPY for children born or adopted on or after 1 July 2004.
1.2.5 Maternity Allowance (MAT) - Description Clarified policy in relation to payment of MPY for children born or adopted on or after 1 July 2004.
2.4.1 Eligibility for MPY Added that MPY replaced MAT and the Baby Bonus (delivered by the Australian Taxation Office).
2.4.2 Apportioning of MPY Clarified apportioning, considerations when determining if MPY should be apportioned and determining the percentage of payment.
2.7.1 Eligibility for MAT Added that MPY replaced MAT and the Baby Bonus (delivered by the Australian Taxation Office).
4.2.3.10 Restrictions on Determining FTB Claims Clarified policy when customer does not have a TFN.
7.3.2.10 Waiving a Debt Arising from Administrative Error Corrected waiver example and updated summary.

Family Assistance Guide Updates - 4 January 2005 (v1.59)

Topic No. Topic Title Change
2.6.8 Grandparent Child Care Benefit (GCCB) - Eligibility Criteria New topic.
3.1.7.13 Capitalised Maintenance Clarified capitalisation period to apply when not mentioned in court order or child support agreement.