If you have taken on the care of someone else’s child, Centrelink treats you like any other family when it comes to payments such as Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Benefit, and Parenting Payment. You may also be able to get a foster child Health Care Card, even if you are caring for a child through a private arrangement.
I’m a grandparent raising my grandkids full time because of my daughter’s drug and alcohol problems but we don’t want to involve child protection services. Am I still eligible for any Australian Government assistance?
If you have day-to-day care and responsibility for someone else’s child you may be eligible to receive Family Tax Benefit, however you would not generally be eligible for family assistance if the parent of your grandchild or grandchildren lives in the same household.
You may also be eligible to receive other assistance, such as Parenting Payment, Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate, as well as the Double Orphan Pension and the foster child Health Care Card depending on your particular circumstances.
You can speak about your personal situation by calling Centrelink’s families and parents line on 13 6150 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, or by visiting your local Medicare office or Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
If you live in or near Caringbah (NSW), Penrith (NSW), Oakleigh (VIC), Caboolture (QLD), or Perth (WA), you can also call a Centrelink Grandparent Advisor on 1800 245 965.
Grandparent Advisors have been introduced in selected Centrelink Customer Service Centres to support grandparents with full-time caring responsibility for their grandchildren.
Grandparent Advisors can assist you by:
- providing an assessment of your family circumstances
- providing information and help to access Centrelink payments and services you may be eligible for
- arranging appointments for you with specialist Centrelink staff such as Social Workers, and
- arranging referrals to other federal, state and community service providers that may also be able to assist you.
I have recently taken on the care of my god-child through a private arrangement and I think I will be raising her for the foreseeable future. Am I eligible for any Australian Government payments even though I’m not technically related to her?
If you have day-to-day care and responsibility for someone else’s child you may be eligible to receive Family Tax Benefit, even if the child is not related to you.
If the care of the child is in dispute you can talk to a Centrelink Customer Service Adviser about what sort of evidence you will need. Centrelink also has social workers available to help you with these matters.
You may also be eligible to receive other assistance, such as Parenting Payment, Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate, as well as a foster child Health Care Card depending on your particular circumstances. You can speak about your personal situation by calling Centrelink’s families and parents line on 13 6150 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, or by visiting your local Medicare office or Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
We have recently taken custody of our niece as the result of a care and protection order. I am her foster carer. What Australian Government assistance is available to me?
If you are legally responsible for the day-to-day care, welfare and development of a young person or the young person is wholly or substantially in your care, you may be eligible for Family Tax Benefit.
You may also be eligible to receive other assistance , such as Parenting Payment, Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate, as well as the foster child Health Care Card depending on your particular circumstances.
You can speak about your personal situation by calling Centrelink’s families and parents line on 13 6150 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, or by visiting your local Medicare office or Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
My daughter recently gave birth to a baby, but she hasn’t finished high-school yet. We want to look after the baby until she has finished high-school. Are we still eligible for any Australian Government assistance?
Grandparents are not generally eligible for assistance if the parent of the child or children lives in the same household. However, if your daughter doesn’t live in the same household and you have day-to-day care and responsibility for your grandchild you may be eligible to receive Family Tax Benefit.
You may also be eligible to receive other family payments, such as Parenting Payment, Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate, as well as Grandparent Child Care Benefit and the foster child Health Care Card depending on your particular circumstances.
You can speak about your personal situation by calling Centrelink’s families and parents line on 13 6150 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, or by visiting your local Medicare office or Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
My brother and his wife recently tragically lost their lives, leaving behind a young child who is now in my care. What Australian Government assistance am I eligible for?
If you have day-to-day care and responsibility for someone else’s child you may be eligible to receive Family Tax Benefit. You may also be eligible to receive other assistance, such as Parenting Payment, Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate, as well as the Double Orphan Pension and the foster child Health Care Card depending on your particular circumstances.
You can speak about your personal situation by calling Centrelink’s families and parents line on 13 6150 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, or by visiting your local Medicare office or Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
My husband and I have recently taken on the care of a young child with a disability. Are there any specific Australian Government supports or assistance we should know about?
Yes. You may be able to get Carer Allowance if the child has a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability which is permanent or likely to continue for an extended period. If the child's disability does not qualify you for payment of Carer Allowance, you may be able to get a Carer Allowance Health Care Card. You can receive one of these if the child requires extra care and attention on a daily basis amounting to at least 14 hours per week. This extra care must be provided by you or your partner.
You may also be able to get Carer Payment in addition to Carer Allowance. Carer Payment is an income support payment for customers who are caring for a profoundly disabled child.
In addition, if you have day-to-day care and responsibility for someone else’s child you may be eligible to receive Family Tax Benefit and other assistance such as Parenting Payment, Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate, as well as the foster child Health Care Card. You can speak about your personal situation by calling Centrelink’s disabilities sickness and carers line on 13 2717 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, or by visiting your local Medicare office or Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
I am a foster carer who has recently taken on the care of another child. How can I let Centrelink know so this new situation is reflected in my payments?
If you are already a recipient of payments such as Family Tax Benefit (Part A or Part B), you can verbally advise Centrelink that you are now caring for an additional child. You can do this by calling Centrelink’s families and parents line on 13 6150 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, or by visiting your local Medicare office or Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
Medicare Assistance
We have recently taken custody of a child whose parents are in jail, and we don’t know the child’s Medicare details. Can we still get medical assistance for the child, and can we be reimbursed by Medicare for any of the costs?
Yes. If the child is enrolled in Medicare, you can claim for the child’s medical treatment even if you don’t have their Medicare card. Your doctor will just need to call 1300 660 035 to find out the child’s Medicare number.
If you have paid for a medical consultation for a child in your care, whether or not the receipt is made out to you, you can still claim the benefit at a Medicare office because you have incurred the expense. This can happen even without the child’s Medicare card as Medicare staff can find the child’s Medicare number on the system in order to pay the claim. You only need to tell the staff member you incurred the expense – no other proof is required, but you may be asked for details such as the child’s birthday.
I’m a grandparent raising my grandchild full-time. Do I need to have my grandchild registered on my Medicare card to claim a rebate for visiting our GP?
No, you do not need to have your grandchild listed on your Medicare card to make a claim for medical costs you incur if the child is enrolled in Medicare. If you have paid for a medical consultation for a child in your care, whether or not the receipt is made out to you, you can still claim the benefit at a Medicare office because you have incurred the expense. This can happen even without the child’s Medicare card as Medicare staff can find the child’s Medicare number on the system in order to pay the claim. You only need to tell the staff member you incurred the expense – no other proof is required, but you may be asked for details such as the child’s birthday.
You may also request to have your grandchild copied onto your Medicare card, though it will be necessary to provide documentation to support your request. Documents from the Court and relevant state/territory child protection departments can be used for proof that your child is in your full time care.
I am a foster carer who has the care of a child until they are 18 years old. Can I add the child to my Medicare card?
Yes. Formal carers who have care of a child until they are 18 years old may request to have the child copied onto their Medicare card, though they will need to provide documentation to support the request. Documents from the Court and relevant state/territory departments responsible for child protection can be used for proof that the children are in full time care until they are 18 years of age.