The FTB has new payment rates and payment periods, along with new eligibility criteria, all designed to assist Australian families deal with increasing living expenses. For the 2025-2026 financial year, the FTB Part A and Part B payment rates are again going to help families with children from low and middle income households.
What’s New for 2025: New Payment Rates
The 2025-2026 FTB rates aims to soften the financial burden to families. Your FTB benefits will be based on the age of the children and family situation.
- FTB Part A rates (per child, every two weeks): $227.36 (0-12 yrs old), $295.82 (13-19 yrs old, attending school)
- FTB Part B rates (per family, every two weeks): $193.34 (youngest child under 5 yrs old), $134.96 (youngest child 5-18 yrs old)
- The new rates and the increases provided will assist families with children of school age who are older. These families are going to receive the most assistance.
When Money Comes In: Payment Schedules
To keep things simple, Centrelink has continued making payments on a fortnightly basis and 2025–2026 payments will start to land in August 2025. Families can receive a lump sum after the financial year closes, but most families opt to receive ongoing fortnightly payments. All payment information and schedules and any adjustments made are available on the Centrelink myGov portal. This way, families can easily keep track of notifications regarding changes in payments and receive any assistance they need.
Core eligibility rules for the Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
Most importantly, the eligibility rules for the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) haven’t changed, but there are a few important updates.
To qualify, families must have dependent children under 19 and meet the relevant residency requirements, and they must also live with the applicant who acts as the primary carer for the child for at least 35% of the year, he/she must also and keep the child’s immunisations, school readiness and enrolments, and overall school attendance up to date.
With respect to child income limits;
- FTB Part A starts to phase out at $86,852, for one child, and goes higher for bigger families, and stops completely at about $118,771.
- For Part B, single parents are below $100,007, and for couples the lower income earner must earn below $6,935 a year for the full payment and then the total stops at about $34,438.
How to Apply: Step by Step
To apply for the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) the steps is as follows:
- You must complete the eligibility requirements in income and residency rules, and the age of the child.
- Then you must gather the relevant documents, including income statements and a form of ID.
- You can submit an application via myGov, which also provides a way for you to submit your documentation safely.
- Once a decision on your application is made, families will see automatic payments. Families are encouraged to keep their details current to prevent any possible payment issues.
Overpayments and Balancing Payments
Overpayments must be refunded and may influence your income declaration for ongoing Centrelink payments, pass any change in your income to Centrelink. Each year after you lodge your tax return, payments are “balanced” to correct any issues. January to December Centrelink payments are annual adjusted based on information from your tax return to ensure you are receiving your entitled benefits. Centrelink will adjust your payments in the following year and for the rest of the year to collect any funds you were overpaid.
Very Short Table: FTB 2025 Key Data
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Payment Frequency | Fortnightly |
| Max. Part A (per child) | $295.82 |
| Max. Part B (per family) | $193.34 |
| First Payment (2025) | August |
FAQs
Q1.Can both FTB Part A and B be claimed?
Yes, families can receive both payments if they are eligible for both.
Q2. Do FTB payments affect tax returns?
No, but you must report the correct family income for tax purposes.
Q3. What happens if there is an overpayment?
Future payments will be reduced until the Centrelink overhead payments are recovered.
