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 - 2023

12 December 2023 (v1.250)

Page Title Details
1.1.I.105 Interim period (FTB) Clarified policy.
1.1.N.15 Nights in care (FTB) Clarified policy.
2.1.1.50 Determining percentage of care Clarified policy.
2.1.1.70 Disputed care arrangements Clarified policy.

6 November 2023 (v1.249)

Page Title Details
1.1.A.45 Adjusted rate of FTB Added Policy reference.
1.1.D.60 Debt, debtor Updated policy.
1.1.N.40 Notification period Updated Act reference.
2.1.1.11 Full-time study requirement Updated to gender neutral terminology.
3.1 FTB rate calculation Clarified policy.
6.4.1.10 Individuals affected by reconciliation Clarified policy and updated example.
7.1.4 FA debts - interest charge on debts Updated departmental name.

20 September 2023 (v1.248)

Page Title Details
1.2.18 Newborn supplement (NBS) - description Updated terminology.
1.2.19 Stillborn baby payment (SBP) - description Updated terminology.
2.2.1.10 NARWP for FTB Part A Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.3 NBS & NBU eligibility for individuals Updated to reflect legislative change.
3.1.4.30 Rent assistance Updated to reflect indexation.
3.1.9.10 Calculating FTB Part B Clarified policy.
3.2.3 Adjusted fringe benefits total Updated terminology.
3.6.2 FTB rent assistance - historical rates & thresholds Updated to reflect indexation.
3.11 NBS rate Updated terminology.
4.15.2 Determination of SBP claims Updated to reflect legislative change regarding paid parental leave.

14 August 2023 (v1.247)

Page Title Details
1.2.1 Family tax benefit (FTB) - description Clarified policy.
3.2.4 Target foreign income Updated exchange rates.
3.6.6 Foreign exchange rate - historical rates Updated exchange rates.
4.2.3.20 Determining an FTB claim Clarified policy.

3 July 2023 (v1.246)

Page Title Details
1.1.A.70 Applicable percentage (CCS) Updated to reflect indexation.
1.1.H.15 Higher rate child (CCS) Clarified policy.
1.1.H.20 Hourly rate caps (CCS) Removed hourly rate cap table.
1.1.I.70 Income thresholds (CCS) Updated to reflect indexation and policy.
1.1.M.25 Maximum amount (FTB advance) Updated rate.
1.1.S.104 Standard rate child (CCS) Updated policy.
1.2.6 Child care subsidy (CCS) - description Updated policy.
1.2.16 Multiple birth allowance (MBA) - description Updated rates.
2.6.2.30 CCS - immunisation approved exemptions Clarified policy.
2.8.1.40 ACCS (child wellbeing) - determinations Clarified policy.
2.12.1 SBP eligibility criteria Updated income test limit.
3.1.1.20 Current FTB rates & income test amounts Updated rates.
3.5 CCS entitlement Clarified policy.
3.5.1 CCS - combined annual ATI Updated income threshold and policy.
3.5.2.10 CCS - activity test - general Updated income threshold and subsidised hours of approved care.
3.5.3 CCS - hourly rate caps Updated to reflect indexation and clarified policy.
3.5.4 Calculating CCS entitlement Updated policy and examples.
3.6.1 FTB Part A - historical rates Updated rates.
3.6.3 FTB Part B - historical rates Updated rates.
3.7.1 Payment rates for ACCS (child wellbeing), ACCS (grandparent) & ACCS (temporary financial hardship) Removed subsidy arrangements table.
3.11 NBS rate Updated rates.
7.2.2 Debt recovery by deduction Clarified policy.

8 May 2023 (v1.245)

There where no policy changes for this release.

20 March 2023 (v1.244)

Page Title Details
1.1.M.22 Maintenance income test ceiling (FTB) Updated definition.
1.1.M.65 Modified entitlement method (FTB) Updated definition.
1.2.11 Single income family supplement (SIFS) - description Updated policy.
1.4.2 Privacy & confidentiality Updated policy.
2.1.2.40 FTB portability Updated policy.
3.1.4.20 Standard rate - FTB Part A Method 1 Updated policy.
3.1.4.30 Rent assistance Updated rates and thresholds.
3.1.6.20 Presumption of parentage - Stage 2 Updated Act reference.
3.6.2 FTB rent assistance - historical rates & thresholds Updated to reflect indexation.
4.1.1.70 TFN requirements for SBP Clarified policy.
4.3.1.20 FTB payment choices for instalment individuals Clarified policy.
4.3.1.30 Mandatory continuous adjustment of FTB instalments Updated policy references.

6 February 2023 (v1.243)

Page Title Details
1.1.G.10 Garnishee debtor, garnishee notice Updated Act and policy reference.
1.1.H.20 Hourly rate caps (CCS) Updated to reflect indexation.
1.1.I.70 Income thresholds (CCS) Updated to reflect indexation.
1.1.M.15 Maintenance agreement (FTB) Updated policy references.
1.1.P.10 Parent Added Act reference.
1.1.R.22 Relationship parent/child Updated to gender neutral terminology.
1.2.15 Rent assistance (RA) - description Updated references.
2.1.2.30 Temporary absence from Australia before 1 July 2016 (deleted) Removed page.
2.12.1 SBP eligibility criteria Updated to gender neutral terminology.
3.1.1.50 FTB payments during absence from Australia before 1 July 2016 (deleted) Removed page.
3.1.4.30 Rent assistance Updated to gender neutral terminology.
3.1.5.20 Determining which stage of the CSS applies Clarified policy.
3.1.5.60 When maintenance action is not applicable Updated to gender neutral terminology.
3.1.5.70 Exemptions from the maintenance action test Updated to gender neutral terminology.
3.1.6.45 Child support agreements (post July 2008) Updated policy .
3.1.7.14 Notional assessments Updated policy.
3.2.8.30 Revised estimates Updated to gender neutral terminology.
3.5.1 CCS - combined annual ATI Updated to reflect indexation.
3.5.2.10 CCS - activity test - general Updated income threshold.
3.5.3 CCS - hourly rate caps Updated to reflect indexation.
3.7.1 Payment rates for ACCS (child wellbeing), ACCS (grandparent) & ACCS (temporary financial hardship) Updated to reflect indexation.
3.11 NBS rate Updated to gender neutral terminology.
4.4.2.30 Date of effect rules - FTB payment choices Removed information.
7.3.1.10 Writing-off a debt Clarified policy.

3 January 2023 (v1.242)

Page Title Details
1.1.P.19 Parenting order Clarified definition.
1.2.8.20 Variations to FTB advance repayment period Clarified policy.
2.1.1.20 Shared care & change of care summary Clarified policy.
2.1.1.30 Verification of shared care arrangements Clarified policy.
3.1.5.40 Maintenance action in progress Added policy references and clarified policy.
3.1.5.90 Maintenance action test reviews Added policy references and clarified policy.
3.1.6.30 Court orders & court registered agreements Clarified policy.
3.1.6.40 Child support assessments Clarified policy.
4.2.1.10 Claim lodgement & verification Updated policy.
4.2.3.10 Restrictions on determining FTB claims Clarified policy.
4.2.4.100 Claim action 10 - ATO has not actioned TFN request Clarified policy.
4.2.4.110 Claim action 11 - ATO advises Centrelink no TFN Clarified policy.
4.2.4.150 Claim action 15 - bank details not provided within 28 days Clarified policy.
4.4.8 Review of FTB entitlements Clarified policy.
7.2.2 Debt recovery by deduction Updated policy.
7.2.8 Effect of bankruptcy on debt recovery Updated terminology.
7.2.10 Debt recovery of CCS/ACCS by offsetting - prior to reconciliation Clarified policy.
7.3.2.50 Waiver in special circumstances Clarified policy.