Schoolkids Bonus - Eligibility information

Who is eligible for the Schoolkids Bonus?

Parents or carers may receive the Schoolkids Bonus if their child or children meet the age and education requirements and receive an eligible payment.

Students may also receive the Schoolkids Bonus if they meet the age and education requirements and receive an eligible payment.

Use this easy pathfinder to see if you’re eligible.

What are the age and education requirements?

Your child or you (if you’re a student) must be undertaking primary or secondary studies and be under 20 years of age* to be eligible for the Schoolkids Bonus.

*students aged 19, must have turned 19 in the relevant calendar year.

What is an eligible payment?

Parents or carers
If you are a parent or carer, you need to be receiving one of the following payments on behalf of your child/ren on 1 January (for January payment) and/or 30 June (for July payment):


Centrelink payments

Department of Veterans' Affairs Education Allowances

Students
If you are a student, you need to be receiving one of the following payments for yourself on 1 January (for January payment) and/or 30 June (for July payment):


Centrelink payments

Department of Veterans' Affairs Education Allowances

I’m not sure whether I receive an eligible payment. How do I check?

You can check your details with Centrelink through Online Services or by visiting a Centrelink-Medicare Service Centre. You can check with the Department of Veterans' Affairs about their education allowances.

When is eligibility determined?

Eligibility is determined on 1 January (for the January payment) and 30 June (for the July payment) every year. These two dates are called ‘test dates’.  This means you need to be receiving one of the eligible payments on 1 January and/or 30 June to receive a Schoolkids Bonus payment.

If asked by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs, you need to make sure your children’s or your education details are up-to-date by 31 December for the January payment or 29 June for the July payment.

If you are not entitled to receive an eligible payment on a test date for any reason (e.g. your income was too high), you will not be entitled to Schoolkids Bonus for that test date.

1 January was a public holiday and I couldn’t claim an eligible payment. Do I miss out on the January Schoolkids Bonus payment?

No, you won't miss out on the January Schoolkids Bonus payment so long as you are found to be entitled to receive one of the eligible payments on 1 January retrospectively. You can put in your claim for an eligible payment after 1 January and you will receive your Schoolkids Bonus payment once your claim for an eligible payment has been processed and granted.

How long do I have to claim an eligible payment and still receive the January Schoolkids Bonus payment?

If you receive Family Tax Benefit Part A, you have a maximum of two years from the end of the financial year in which the test date occurs to make a claim and update your child’s education details.

Students receiving income support or education allowances have a maximum of 13 weeks from the test date to make a claim.

I don’t receive Family Tax Benefit Part A. Am I eligible for the Schoolkids Bonus?

You may be if you receive any of the other eligible payments and you meet the age and education requirements. Check the list of eligible payments and age and education requirements.

I started receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A for my child after 1 January. Will I receive the Schoolkids Bonus?

If you started to receive Family Tax Benefit Part A for your child after the 1 January test date when eligibility is determined, you are not entitled to receive the January Schoolkids Bonus payment. If you are still receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A instalments for your child on the 30 June test date then you will receive the July Schoolkids Bonus Payment.

If you usually receive Family Tax Benefit as a lump sum, your eligibility for both instalments of Schoolkids Bonus will be tested when your Family Tax Benefit payment is determined.

I have shared care of my child. Will I receive the Schoolkids Bonus?

Yes, if you meet the eligibility requirements. Families who share the care of their children and receive a percentage of Family Tax Benefit Part A or an education allowance will receive the same percentage of the Schoolkids Bonus. The Schoolkids Bonus instalment will be split according to your shared care percentage relevant on the test date.
Additionally, if you are in a blended family situation, your Schoolkids Bonus will be split according to your blended family percentage.

The care arrangements for my child have changed. Will I receive the Schoolkids Bonus?

If you have sole or shared care of your child on 1 January or 30 June each year, you will receive the Schoolkids Bonus for January and/or July if you meet the other eligibility criteria. The amount of payment you receive will depend on your care arrangements as at 1 January or 30 June each year if your care arrangements changed after a test date (ie 1 January or 30 June, your next payment will be based on the new arrangements.

My child’s mother has care of our child, but I pay the school fees. Will I receive the Schoolkids Bonus?

Payment of the Schoolkids Bonus is not determined by who pays the school fees or bears the cost of other education expenses. If you share the care of your child and receive a percentage of Family Tax Benefit Part A or an education allowance you’ll receive the same percentage of the Schoolkids Bonus. If the other parent has sole care, the other parent will receive the Schoolkids Bonus.

My child received the Schoolkids Bonus but I pay for their education expenses. Why is it given to children instead of the parent?

Generally, the Schoolkids Bonus is provided to families. However, in situations where the student receives an eligible payment, such as Youth Allowance, into their own bank account (usually with the consent of their parents) they will also receive the Schoolkids Bonus payment, provided they meet the age and education requirements.

Content Updated: 11 April 2013