Dec 2008 lump sum payment for families

Who is eligible?

Families will be eligible for the lump sum payment if, on 14 October 2008, they:

  • were entitled to Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB Part A)
    or
  • had a dependent child/children enabling them to receive:
    • Youth Allowance
    • ABSTUDY Living Allowance
      or
    • an education allowance under the Veterans' Children Education Scheme or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme and who did not receive FTB Part A.

How much is the payment?

Families will receive $1,000 for each eligible child in their care.


When and how will the payment be made?

You do not need to do anything to receive your lump sum payment.

In most cases, families who receive fortnightly payments of FTB Part A, Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY Living Allowance or eligible education allowances from the Department of Veterans' Affairs will receive the lump sum payment automatically into their bank account during the fortnight 8 to 19 December 2008.

This includes families who have chosen to defer their FTB Part A payment to the end of the year under a More Choice for Families option.

If your family receives FTB Part A as a lump sum at the end of the financial year, the payment will be made at the same time as your FTB Part A payment.

If you were eligible for FTB Part A on 14 October 2008 and you would like the payment earlier you can change to fortnightly payments. You can change the way you receive your payments by:

  • visiting the Family Assistance Office website.
  • visiting your nearest Family Assistance Office, located in Medicare Australia offices and Centrelink Customer Service Centres
  • calling the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150.

Am I entitled to the payment if I share the care of my child/children?

If you share the care of your child or children and have at least 35 per cent care, you may be entitled to a portion of the lump sum payment. The payment will be automatically calculated based on the Family Tax Benefit percentage of each child.
 

Is it possible to get both the payment for families and the payments for pensioners, carers, seniors and veterans?

Yes, if you are eligible for more than one payment.

More information on the payments for pensioners, carers, seniors and veterans
 

Is the payment considered income?

No. The payment is not taxable income or considered income for social security or Family Assistance purposes.
 

Will my payment be used to repay an existing Family Assistance overpayment?

No. The Economic Security Strategy payments will not be used to recover existing Family Assistance overpayments. If you are eligible for an Economic Security Strategy payment it will be paid in full.
 

Can I be asked to pay back my Economic Security Strategy payment?

Centrelink cannot ask you to pay back the Economic Security Strategy payment unless it is later found that you knowingly made a misleading statement or provided false information to obtain the payment.
 

Will the payment be income managed?

If your Centrelink and or family payments are usually subject to income management, your Economic Security Strategy payment will be income managed.
 

More information

For more information about the lump sum payments call:

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Content Updated: 11 April 2013