Single parent moving to Australia from New Zealand

If you are a single parent wanting to move to Australia and are unsure of your options, the below will hopefully help.

If you are wondering what government support you can receive when you arrive in Australia as a single parent, you should be eligible for these payments: Family Tax Benefit, Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement, Single Income Family Supplement, Child Care Subsidy, Double Orphan Pension and Health Care Card.

Please note, when researching the below I went round and round the different pages, trying to get to the bottom of the eligibility requirements and, as a NZ citizen on an SCV, if you need to wait the newly arrived resident wait period.

I found conflicting answers, but here it does state that you are eligible for the Family Tax Benefit Part A and Part B, newborn payments, single income suppliment, and the child care subsidy if you hold a Special Category visa subclass 444: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/exemptions-to-newly-arrived-residents-waiting-period?context=22151.

In this post, you will find information on the following:

• Eligible Australian government payments for NZ citizens
• Family Tax Benefit Part A
• Family Tax Benefit Part B
• Single Income Family Supplement
• Residence Rules
• Additional support for single parents in Australia

New Zealand citizens claiming payments in Australia are eligible for the below Australian government payments

Non-protected SCV holders

If you live in Australia and you are a non-protected SCV holder, you may be able to claim the following:

• Family Tax Benefit
• Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement
• Single Income Family Supplement
• Child Care Subsidy
• Double Orphan Pension
• Health Care Card – you don’t need to apply for a Health Care Card. If you’re eligible, Services Australia will send you your card.

If you have served or have an exemption from the newly arrived resident’s waiting period, you may also be able to claim the following:

• Low-Income Health Care Card
• Foster Child Health Care Card
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
• Parental Leave Pay
• Dad and Partner Pay
• Assistance for Isolated Children.

Source: Services Australia, New Zealand citizens claiming payments in Australia. 

Family Tax Benefit Part A

Eligibility for FTB Part A is based on your household income. The amount you get depends on the number and age of your children.

FTB Part B is just for one-income households, so many single parents also qualify for this additional payment.

The maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A is now $191.24 for a child 0 to 12 years and $248.78 for a child 13 to 19 years. Children aged 16 – 19 must be studying for you to collect FTB Part A.

The Family Tax Part A end-of-financial-year supplement for the 2021-22 financial year is up to $788.40 for each eligible child, up from $781.10 last financial year. This supplement is used to balance payments against income from work.

You may be eligible for FTB Part A if you care for a dependent child who is either 0 to 15 years of age or 16 to 19 years of age and meets the study requirements.

You must also meet the income test, residence rules (NZ citizen on an SCV), and care for the child at least 35% of the time.

Your child must also meet immunisation and Healthy Start for School requirements if they apply. They may reduce your FTB Part A payment per fortnight for each child who doesn’t meet these.

When they balance your payments after the financial year, you may get a FTB Part A supplement. If you didn’t get enough FTB during the year, you may also get a top-up.

To get the FTB Part A supplement, your family’s adjusted taxable income must be $80,000 or less.

Waiting periods: newly arrived residents generally have to wait one year before getting this payment, with some exemptions.

Source: Services Australia, Family Tax Benefit Part A Eligibility. 

Family Tax Benefit Part B

Family Tax Benefit Part B is not paid per child; it is one payment for the family, based on your income. The maximum rate of FTB Part B is:

• $162.54 when the youngest child is 0 to 5 years of age
• $113.54 when the youngest child is 5 to 18 years of age.
• $158.34 per fortnight when your youngest child is under 6. When your youngest turns six, the max rate of FTB Part B falls to $110.60.

The FTB Part B supplement is up to $383.25 per family for the last financial year.

They may pay you FTB Part B if you’re a single parent, a grandparent carer, or a member of a couple with one main income.

You may be eligible if either:

• you’re a member of a couple with one main income and care for a dependent child aged under 13
• You’re a single parent or a grandparent carer who cares for a dependent child aged under 18. The child must meet study requirements if they’re aged 16 to 18.

Read more about how Services Australia define a relationship.

You must also meet all of the following:

• an income test
• residence rules
• care for the child at least 35% of the time.

You or your partner can’t get FTB Part B while getting Parental Leave Pay.

Source: Services Australia, Family Tax Benefit Part B Eligibility.

Single Income Family Supplement

An annual payment of up to $300 to help eligible families.

To get this, you must:

• have been eligible for Single Income Family Supplement since 30 June 2017
• care for an eligible child
• have one main income earner with a taxable income between $68,000 and $150,000
• not have a second income earner with a taxable income above $18,000.

You may be eligible if all of the following apply:

• you were eligible on 30 June 2017 and have stayed eligible since
• there is 1 main income earner in your family
• their taxable income is between $68,000 and $150,000
• you receive Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for at least 1 child.

Read the full conditions under who can get the Single Income Family Supplement. 

Additional support for single parents in Australia

Here are some Australian not-for-profit websites for single parents that might be helpful:

• https://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/family-diversity/single-parents/support-for-single-parents
• https://singlemum.com.au/government-benefits-welfare-guide
• https://parents.au.reachout.com/common-concerns/everyday-issues/things-to-try-single-parenting-and-teenagers/support-options-for-single-parents
• https://www.frolo.com/blog/single-parent-in-australia
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/australiansingleparents/

I sincerely hope the above helps.

You might be interested in…

The below posts might interest you:

• Find a House to Buy or Rent in Australia
• Jobs in Australia
• Schools in Australia

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