If you have clients receiving Family Tax Benefit, there are changes to immunisation requirements that may affect their family.
Since 1 July 2018, child vaccinations are linked to people’s fortnightly Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A payments, rather than being attached to the end of year supplement.
This means if your client’s child isn’t up to date with their immunisations, their fortnightly FTB Part A payment may be reduced. The rate can be reduced by up to $28.28 per fortnight per child.
If their child no longer meets immunisation requirements, the Department of Human Services will write to them. We’ll let them know what they need to do, so their fortnightly FTB payments are not affected.
They will have 63 days to make sure their child is up to date with their immunisations. Once their child is up to date or on a catch-up schedule, they don’t need to tell us. Their vaccination provider will update the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and we’ll then receive it.
Your clients can check the immunisation history for any children under 14 years of age in their care by:
- logging into their Medicare online account through myGov;
- using the Express Plus Medicare App;
- calling the AIR; or
- visiting their vaccination provider.
Children 14 years of age or older can access their own immunisation history statement online, call the AIR or visit their vaccination provider.
To find out more about immunisation requirements for family payments and the Australian Immunisation Register, visit humanservices.gov.au/immunisation.
Child Care Subsidy
It’s also important to let your clients know that if they haven’t done a Child Care Subsidy assessment, now is the time to do it, otherwise they will need to submit a full claim.
Child Care Subsidy started on 2 July 2018. The Department pays it directly to your client’s provider to reduce the fees they pay.
The subsidy has replaced the previous child care payments that the Department offered. To transition to the new subsidy, your clients must complete a Child Care Subsidy assessment. If they don’t, they’ll miss out on any Child Care Subsidy they were eligible for from 2 July 2018.
It’s quick and easy to do the assessment – the Department will prefill any information they’ve already given us. All they need to do is follow these simple steps:
- Sign into their Centrelink online account through myGov.
- Select the Complete your Child Care Subsidy assessment
- Work through the steps to give us new information and confirm your current details.
For help, they can use our online guide to complete your Child Care Subsidy assessment.
The assessment will only appear if they received a payment for approved care before 2 July. If they can’t see the assessment, they’ll need to submit a new claim for Child Care Subsidy.
It’s important to note new claims can only be backdated up to 28 days.
If your clients have already completed their assessment or a new claim, make sure they’ve confirmed their child’s enrolment details with us. We can’t pay Child Care Subsidy to their provider until they do this.
For more information about Child Care Subsidy, visit humanservices.gov.au/childcaresubsidy.
