6.4.1 Overview of reconciliation

Introduction

This section gives an overview of reconciliation.

Reconciliation is the process of determining an individual's (1.1.I.90) eligibility for FTB. For the purposes of FTB and CCS, this process also determines an individual's correct rate of payment for the relevant income year (1.1.R.23). Depending on an individual's circumstances, this involves comparing the FTB and/or CCS received during the relevant income year, based on their estimated ATI (1.1.A.20), maintenance income (1.1.M.10) (for FTB), and child care usage (for CCS), with their actual entitlement (1.1.E.30), based on their:

• actual ATI (provided in part by the ATO)
• actual maintenance income (FTB Part A only), and
• session reports (1.1.S.35) submitted by approved providers (1.1.A.90).

The purpose of reconciliation is to determine whether an individual was eligible to receive payment (for FTB) and, if so, whether they received their correct entitlement.

An adjustment takes place in cases where reconciliation shows a difference between the amount of FA the individual received, based on estimated income, and their correct entitlement, based on actual income.

The following table shows where more information on reconciliation can be found.

CCS Reconciliation

The payment of CCS and ACCS generally occurs by way of a weekly or fortnightly payment made directly to approved providers. Individuals will no longer be able to elect to receive their subsidy as a lump sum at the end of financial year. Individuals will need to make a claim for CCS when (or before) each child starts attending care in order to receive subsidy. Any CCS owed to families following the end of year reconciliation process will continue to be paid directly to individuals as a lump sum. Conversely, if any overpayment occurred because the individual underestimated their income, these amounts will be raised as a debt against the individual.