4.3.1.20 FTB payment choices for instalment individuals
Summary
'More Choice for Families' gives families more choice and flexibility in how their FTB is paid. This enables families to match their payment arrangements more closely to their family circumstances. The FTB payment choices include the following:
| Choice 1 | The individual can choose to receive the base rate of FTB Part A and all of their FTB Part B entitlement as fortnightly payments. After the end of the relevant income year, the individual's FTB entitlements are reconciled and any top-ups paid (where eligible). |
|---|---|
| Choice 2 | The individual can choose to receive only their FTB Part A entitlements, including RA (if eligible), as fortnightly payments.
The individual's entitlement to FTB Part B is assessed after the end of the relevant income year. |
| Choice 3 | The individual can choose to receive the base rate of FTB Part A as fortnightly payments.
The individual is assessed for any further entitlement to FTB Part A and FTB Part B after the end of the relevant income year. |
| Choice 4 | The individual can choose to receive only their FTB Part B entitlement as fortnightly payments.
The individual's entitlement to FTB Part A is assessed after the end of the relevant income year. |
| Choice 5 | The individual can choose to receive all of their FTB Part A, including RA (if eligible), and FTB Part B entitlements as fortnightly payments. |
| Choice 6 | The individual can choose to receive all of their FTB Part A and FTB Part B entitlements after the end of the relevant income year.
They do not receive any fortnightly payments of FTB during the relevant income year. They may still choose to receive fortnightly payments of RA (if eligible). |
An individual may change their choice of delivery method for FTB instalments at any time during the income year.
Individuals who provide a revised estimate of ATI during the income year that is higher than their previous income estimate, will, if necessary, have their ongoing rate of FTB Part A and/or FTB Part B automatically adjusted to reduce the risk of having an FTB overpayment at the end of the income year.
When an individual's FTB rate is reduced under mandatory continuous adjustment (4.3.1.30) there is still the flexibility for them to choose how they wish to receive their FTB payments. This can be done by selecting a payment option from the table above.
FTB Part A and Part B supplements can only be paid at reconciliation after the end of the income year.
The ES aligns with FTB More Choice for Families payment choices. However, individuals who elect to receive their ES payment quarterly (4.3.1.25) should be aware that a More Choice for Families deferral option may override their election to receive ES as a quarterly payment.
Note: Where an individual requests a change of delivery method, the date of effect is the day after the end of the last instalment period, that is, date paid to plus one.
In circumstances where arrears have been determined payable to an individual due to financial hardship, the date of effect of the change to the delivery method may be the later of the date of the original More Choice For Families decision or another date selected by the individual.
Choice 1
Example:
- Matt and Andrea have just had their second child.
- Matt's income is usually $35,000, however, they are likely to do overtime this year.
- During the same financial year, Andrea earned $7,000 before going on leave without pay and will not go back to work before the end of June. Andrea is confident their estimate will not change.
Matt and Andrea are not sure what their combined ATI will be and do not want to risk being overpaid FTB Part A, so they have selected Choice 1.
- Matt and Andrea will receive the base rate of FTB Part A and their FTB Part B entitlement as fortnightly payments.
- They will be assessed for any further entitlement to FTB Part A, FTB Part B and the supplements after the end of the income year, when their tax returns have been assessed by the ATO.
Note: If Matt provides an increased estimate later in the year, the family's FTB rate will be automatically adjusted as appropriate for the remainder of the year to reflect the change and to avoid any potential overpayment. By choosing this option, they are electing to defer payment of more than the base rate FTB Part A until the end of the year.
Choice 2
Example:
- Thanh and Lin already receive FTB for one child and have just had their second child.
- Thanh's employment is steady and they have confidently estimated that their income for the current income year will be $75,000.
- Lin currently has no income but is thinking about returning to work part-time later in the year.
- Lin will need to notify Centrelink of their ATI if they are not required to lodge an income tax return.
Thanh and Lin know they will be entitled to at least the base rate of FTB Part A but, are unsure if they will be entitled to FTB Part B because Lin might return to work before the end of the income year. They select Choice 2. They also have elected to receive the ES quarterly.
- Thanh and Lin will receive all of their FTB Part A as fortnightly payments. Their ES Part A will be paid at the end of each quarter.
- They will be assessed for any entitlement to FTB Part B and the supplements after the end of the income year when Lin's actual income is known. If they are entitled to FTB Part B, their ES Part B will also be paid at that time.
Note: If Lin returns to work after June, they will have to notify Centrelink of an increase in their income estimate, and the family's FTB rate will be automatically adjusted for the remainder of the income year to reduce the risk of an FTB overpayment. The family may elect to defer their FTB Part B payment until the end of the income year when their actual ATI is known. Lin may also be able to nominate a return to work for FTB Part B quarantine purposes (3.1.9.30), if applicable.
Choice 3
Example:
- Cheryl and Steve have just had their first child.
- Steve earned $36,000 last year and is expecting their income to increase but is not sure by how much.
- Cheryl might return to work in February but does not know what their income will be.
Cheryl and Steve are unsure what their combined ATI will be, but they think they might be entitled to more than the base rate of FTB Part A. However, they want to avoid an overpayment. As Cheryl might return to work, they are unsure if they will be entitled to any FTB Part B. Cheryl and Steve think they can afford to wait for any extra FTB, so they select Choice 3.
- Cheryl and Steve will receive the base rate of FTB Part A as fortnightly payments.
- They will be assessed for any further entitlement to FTB Part A, any entitlement to FTB Part B, and the supplements after the end of the income year when their actual ATI is known.
- Cheryl will need to notify Centrelink of their ATI if they are not required to lodge an income tax return.
Note: If Cheryl does return to work, they will be required to notify Centrelink of an increase in their estimate of ATI for the income year. The family's ongoing rate of FTB for the will be automatically adjusted for the remainder of the income year to reduce the risk of an FTB overpayment. Cheryl may also be able to nominate a return to work for FTB Part B quarantine purposes, if applicable.
Choice 4
Example:
- Tracy and Elisabeth have 2 children aged 13 and 16.
- Tracy earns around $114,000 per year.
- Elisabeth is caring full-time for the children at home and has no income.
Tracy's income reduces their FTB Part A to below the base rate for both children, but because Elisabeth will not have any income this income year, and Tracy will not earn above the FTB Part B primary earner income limit (1.1.I.45), they are entitled to FTB Part B. Tracy and Elisabeth select Choice 4. They have also elected to receive their ES quarterly.
- Tracy and Elisabeth will receive all of their FTB Part B as fortnightly payments. Their ES Part B will be paid at the end of each quarter.
- They will be assessed for any entitlement to FTB Part A and the supplements after the end of the income year when Tracy's actual ATI is known. If they are entitled to FTB Part A, their ES Part A will also be paid at that time.
- Elisabeth will need to notify Centrelink of her ATI given that she is not required to lodge an income tax return.
Choice 5
Example:
- John and Hannah already receive FTB for their 2 children and have just had their niece come to live with them full-time.
- John's employment is steady and they are confident of their income estimate.
- Hannah stays at home to care for the children and will not return to work in this income year.
Because John's income is steady and Hannah has no income, they have selected Choice 5.
- John and Hannah will receive all of their FTB Part A and FTB Part B (excluding the supplements) as fortnightly payments.
If John and Hannah are entitled to any more FTB Part A because John's actual ATI was lower than their estimate, a top-up will be paid into their bank account once the FTB reconciliation conditions are satisfied. However, if Hannah returns to work during the income year or John's actual income was higher than their estimate, they may have an overpayment of both FTB Part A and FTB Part B. Note that Hannah may also be able to nominate a return to work for FTB Part B quarantine purposes, if applicable.
Choice 6
Example:
- Luke and Karina receive FTB for their first child and have just had their second child.
- They work together in a partnership and they have realised their ATI will be more than what they first estimated for the current income year.
- Luke and Karina own the home they live in and are not entitled to any RA.
If Luke and Karina's actual ATI is more than their earlier estimate, they may have already been paid too much FTB during this income year for their older child. Luke and Karina want to avoid an overpayment and can afford to wait until after the end of the income year for any entitlement, so they decide on Choice 6.
- Luke and Karina will not receive any further FTB as fortnightly payments.
- They will be assessed for any further entitlement to FTB Part A, FTB Part B, and the supplements after the end of the income year when their actual ATI is known.
If Luke and Karina are entitled to any FTB after their tax returns have been assessed by the ATO, any further FTB to which they are entitled will be used to offset any overpayment for the earlier part of the year when they were receiving FTB instalments.
Note: If Luke or Karina notify Centrelink of an increase in their estimated ATI or if their income estimate is automatically uplifted by Centrelink, their fortnightly payments will be automatically adjusted for the remainder of the income year to reduce the risk of an FTB overpayment. Their FTB rate may be reduced to nil so that they do not receive any fortnightly payments for the remainder of the year. Karina may also be able to nominate a return to work for FTB Part B quarantine purposes, if applicable.