Australia Child Benefits 2026: Complete Guide to FTB, Parental Leave and Childcare
Last verified: 2 April 2026 | Source: Services Australia (servicesaustralia.gov.au)
Australia's family payment system is among the most comprehensive in the world. For a family with two young children on a moderate income, total annual Family Tax Benefit entitlements can exceed A$15,000 before childcare and parental leave benefits are factored in. Services Australia, delivered through Centrelink, administers all major payments. This guide covers every key payment for the 2025–26 financial year, eligibility rules, income tests, and how to apply.
Overview: Australian Family Payments 2025–26
The table below summarises the main payments available to Australian families.
| Payment | Who Gets It | Maximum Value 2025–26 |
|---|---|---|
| Family Tax Benefit Part A | Families with dependent children | A$227.36–A$295.82/fortnight per child |
| Family Tax Benefit Part B | Single parents or one-income couples | A$188.86/fortnight (child under 5) |
| Parental Leave Pay | Primary carer of a newborn | 18 weeks at national minimum wage (A$915.82/week) |
| Child Care Subsidy | Families using approved childcare | Up to 90% of eligible fees |
| Newborn Supplement | First-time or subsequent births | A$2,003.82 (first child); A$668.34 (subsequent) |
| Child Dental Benefit Schedule | Children 2–17 on FTB or similar | Up to A$1,000 over 2 years |
| FTB Part A Supplement | FTB Part A recipients at tax time | A$938.05 per child per year |
| FTB Part B Supplement | FTB Part B recipients at tax time | A$448.95 per family per year |
All payments are indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) each July.
Family Tax Benefit Part A
Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB Part A) is the main per-child payment in Australia. It is paid fortnightly or as an annual lump sum and covers dependent children up to age 19 (if in full-time secondary study).
2025–26 maximum rates:
- Children aged 0–12: A$227.36 per fortnight (A$5,911.36 per year)
- Children aged 13–15, and 16–19 full-time secondary students: A$295.82 per fortnight (A$7,691.32 per year)
Income test — Higher Income Free Area (HIFA):
- A$65,189 per year for one child
- Increases by A$3,796 for each additional child
- Above this threshold, the rate reduces by 20 cents for every dollar of adjusted taxable income (ATI)
- A base rate of A$63.56 per fortnight applies at higher income levels before full phase-out
Newborn Supplement (included with FTB Part A):
Families who are not eligible for Parental Leave Pay can receive the Newborn Supplement alongside FTB Part A:
- A$2,003.82 for the first child
- A$668.34 for each subsequent child
You cannot receive both the Newborn Supplement and Parental Leave Pay at the same time. Claims must be lodged within 52 weeks of the child's birth.
For a detailed breakdown and eligibility scenarios, see the Family Tax Benefit 2026 guide.
Family Tax Benefit Part B
FTB Part B is a per-family supplement designed for single-income families and single parents. Unlike FTB Part A, it is not per-child — it is paid based on the age of the youngest child.
2025–26 maximum rates:
- Youngest child under 5: A$188.86 per fortnight (A$4,910.36 per year)
- Youngest child aged 5–13 (or up to 18 for single parents): A$131.74 per fortnight (A$3,425.24 per year)
Income test:
- The secondary earner (or sole parent) has an income-free area of A$6,789 per year
- Above that threshold, the rate reduces by 20 cents per dollar
- Payment cuts out entirely when the secondary earner's income reaches A$28,681 per year
- For single parents, only the primary income is assessed under a separate test
Couples where both partners work comparable hours or earn similar incomes are generally not eligible for FTB Part B. For a side-by-side comparison of both FTB types, see FTB Part A vs Part B explained.
Annual FTB Supplements (Paid at Tax Time)
In addition to fortnightly payments, FTB recipients may be entitled to annual top-up payments made after lodging their tax return each year.
- FTB Part A Supplement: A$938.05 per child (paid once both partners have lodged their tax returns)
- FTB Part B Supplement: A$448.95 per family
To receive the supplements, families must:
- Lodge their tax return (or confirm they do not need to) by the due date
- Ensure the child's immunisation records are current on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
- Have no outstanding Centrelink debts that would trigger a withholding
These supplements can add meaningfully to a family's annual entitlement — for a family with two children, the FTB Part A Supplement alone adds A$1,876.10 per year.
Parental Leave Pay
Australia's government-funded Parental Leave Pay (PPL) provides income support to the primary carer of a newborn or newly adopted child.
2025–26 key details:
- Duration: 18 weeks (with the scheme legislated to expand to 26 weeks by 2026 under a phased schedule that began in July 2024)
- Rate: National minimum wage — approximately A$915.82 per week in 2025–26 (before tax)
- Total value: Approximately A$16,484.76 for the 18-week period
- Eligibility: Must have worked at least 10 of the 13 months before the birth, earning below the income threshold (A$168,865 ATI)
- Dad and Partner Pay has been absorbed into the expanded PPL scheme, with partners able to share weeks of paid leave
Important: You cannot receive both Parental Leave Pay and the Newborn Supplement for the same child. Most families eligible for PPL will find it more valuable than the Newborn Supplement due to the higher total payment.
Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
The Child Care Subsidy helps families with the cost of approved childcare, including long day care, family day care, outside school hours care, and in-home care.
2025–26 subsidy rates by income:
- Combined family income below A$80,000: subsidy rate up to 90% of eligible fees
- Income between A$80,000 and A$530,000: subsidy reduces incrementally
- Above approximately A$530,000: no CCS entitlement
The subsidy is applied directly to your childcare provider's fees, so most families pay only the gap amount. The CCS is calculated on an hourly rate cap set by the government, meaning that if your provider's fees exceed the cap, you pay the full difference on the excess portion.
Applying for CCS: Submit a separate claim through myGov linked to Centrelink. CCS is assessed independently from FTB — you can receive both at the same time.
Child Dental Benefit Schedule
The Child Dental Benefit Schedule (CDBS) provides basic dental care for eligible children at low or no cost.
- Eligible children: Aged 2–17, who receive FTB Part A or a comparable payment
- Benefit cap: Up to A$1,000 over two consecutive calendar years
- Covered services: Check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals, and extractions
- Not covered: Orthodontic treatment, cosmetic work, or hospital-administered services
Services are available through bulk-billing dental providers who participate in the scheme. Eligibility is checked automatically using Medicare and Centrelink records — no separate application is required once your child is on FTB.
Combining Payments: What a Family Might Receive
To illustrate how multiple payments stack together, consider this scenario:
Scenario: Couple with two children aged 3 and 7. Combined annual income A$70,000. One partner earns A$70,000; the other is not working. The family pays A$900 per fortnight in childcare for the younger child.
| Payment | Annual Estimate |
|---|---|
| FTB Part A (2 children, near max rate) | ~A$11,822 |
| FTB Part B (youngest child under 5, secondary earner A$0) | ~A$4,910 |
| FTB Supplements (tax time, 2 children) | ~A$2,324 |
| CCS (~80% of A$900/fortnight childcare) | ~A$18,720 in subsidised fees |
| Total FTB (cash value) | ~A$19,056 |
In this scenario, the family receives approximately A$19,000 per year in direct FTB cash payments plus substantial childcare subsidy savings. Actual entitlements depend on exact income, hours of childcare used, and the provider's fee structure.
Immunisation Requirement
To receive more than the base rate of FTB Part A, children must meet the immunisation requirements under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). This is checked via the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), which is accessible through myGov.
If your child's immunisation records are not up to date, Services Australia will reduce your FTB Part A to the base rate (A$63.56/fortnight) until the requirements are met. Exemptions exist for medical contraindications — speak to your GP or contact Centrelink for guidance.
How to Apply
Applying for Australian family payments is done online through the myGov portal.
- Create a myGov account at my.gov.au and link it to Centrelink
- Navigate to Centrelink within myGov and select "Make a claim"
- Choose the relevant payment — FTB, Parental Leave Pay, or CCS each have separate claim forms
- Provide an income estimate — use your most recent tax return as a guide; you can update this during the year if circumstances change
- Choose payment method — fortnightly payments or an annual lump sum (lump sum must be claimed after the end of the financial year)
- For newborns: Submit your claim within 52 weeks of the birth date to avoid losing the Newborn Supplement or backdated FTB entitlements
Processing times vary. Most straightforward FTB claims are assessed within a few weeks. Parental Leave Pay claims should be made at least three weeks before your expected due date.
Use Our Calculator
Unsure what you might be entitled to? Our Child Benefits Calculator lets you enter your family's income, children's ages, and childcare costs to get a personalised estimate of your FTB, CCS, and related entitlements.
Related Guides
- What Is Family Tax Benefit? — plain-English FTB explanation
- Family Tax Benefit 2026: Rates, Income Tests and How to Claim
- FTB Part A vs Part B: Which Applies to Your Family?
- Child Care Subsidy vs Family Tax Benefit 2026 — how they work together
- Child Benefits Calculator
- Family Budgeting With Children: Making the Most of Government Payments
Rates shown are for the 2025–26 financial year. Source: Services Australia (servicesaustralia.gov.au), verified April 2026. FTB rates are indexed to CPI each July. Payment thresholds and rates may change — always confirm current amounts at servicesaustralia.gov.au before making financial decisions.