Families have until 30 June 2019 to claim Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Benefit for the 2017-18 financial year as a lump sum.

Thousands of families are running out of time to claim government assistance for the 2017-18 financial year. Planners are encouraged to remind their clients to act now, so they don’t miss out on family and child care payments.

If families didn’t claim these payments during the 2017-18 financial year, they should make a lump sum claim now, so they don’t miss out.

It’s easy for people to claim online for Family Tax Benefit or Child Care Benefit using their Centrelink online account.

When your client claims Child Care Benefit for care provided in 2017-18, we’ll automatically assess them for the Child Care Rebate. This is the final time families can claim the Child Care Benefit, as these payments were replaced by the Child Care Subsidy last year.

The 30 June deadline is also the last chance for families who received the Family Tax Benefit in 2017-18 to confirm their income. Your client either needs to lodge their tax return for 2017-18 with the Australian Taxation Office, or tell us they don’t need to lodge.

If your client misses the 30 June deadline, they could miss out on top-up payments and supplements. They may also have to pay back the Family Tax Benefit they received during the 2017-18 financial year, and their fortnightly Family Tax Benefit payments may stop.

Please remind your clients not to leave this until the last minute. They need to take action now, so they don’t miss out on payments.

For more information, click here.