Eligibility Rules for Family Tax Benefit children aged 16 to 20 years
All dependent children aged 16 to 20 are now required to satisfy a new requirement to be eligible for Family Tax Benefit.
- What is the new eligibility requirement?
- What is an equivalent qualification?
- Will my child be subject to this eligibility requirement?
- When will this eligibility requirement begin?
- Are there any exemptions to this eligibility requirement?
- Where can I find more information?
What is the new eligibility requirement?
Any 16 to 20 year old child of a person claiming Family Tax Benefit needs to satisfy the following education or training requirement. They must:
- have completed a Year 12 or equivalent qualification, or
- be undertaking full-time education or training leading to a Year 12 or equivalent qualification, or
- obtain an exemption from this requirement.
This policy affects fortnightly instalment claims, lump sum claims at the end of the financial year, and past period claims.
What is an equivalent qualification?
A Year 12 equivalent qualification is a Certificate Level ll under the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Will my child be subject to this eligibility requirement?
All dependent children aged 16 to 20 will be subject to the education or training requirement under the new Family Tax Benefit rules, unless they have been granted an exemption.
When will this eligibility requirement begin?
From 1 July 2010, this requirement applies to all families with dependent children aged 16 to 20 years.
Families who made new Family Tax Benefit claims for their dependent children from 1 January 2010 were subject to the requirement from the date of claim.
Are there any exemptions to this requirement?
A child aged 16 to 20 may be exempt from this eligibility requirement if:
- there is no locally accessible approved course of education or study (including any such course available by distance education); or
- where there is such a course, there is no place available in the course, the child is not qualified to undertake the course;
- they lack the capacity to undertake the course due to physical, psychiatric, intellectual or learning disability; or
- there are circumstances that the Family Assistance Office consider make it unreasonable for the child to undertake such a course.
Where can I find more information?
If you require any further information regarding this eligibility requirement, please contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150.
[ top ]