Family Assistance Office
Important changes to the Child Care Tax Rebate
To find out more visit the Child Care Tax Rebate
website or call the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50.
The Family Assistance Office
Family Assistance Office is provided by the Australian Government through partnership arrangements between Medicare Australia, the Australian Tax Office (ATO), Centrelink and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).
The Family Assistance Office provides families with Family Tax Benefit Part A, Family Tax Benefit Part B, Child Care Benefit, Baby Bonus and Maternity Immunisation Allowance.
There are around 550 Family Assistance Offices across Australia, located in all Medicare offices, Centrelink customer service centres and Tax Office shopfronts.
To find out more information about the Family Assistance Office visit: Family Assistance Office's website
When you visit your local Medicare office, you can now also access Family Assistance services at the same time. You can:
- apply for the Baby Bonus payment — your claim must be lodged within 26 weeks of the child's birth
- apply for the Family Tax Benefit (Part A), Family Tax Benefit (Part B), Child Care Benefit or Maternity Immunisation Allowance
- lodge Family Assistance forms (including claims)
- let the Family Assistance Office know about a change in income and circumstances
- consider 'what if' scenarios in terms of payment choices
- make an appointment to see a specialist Family Assistance Officer
- find out more about the Family Assistance Office
Or you can call 136 150 between 8am and 8pm (local time) Monday to Friday or visit the Family Assistance Office's website
Extended Family Assistance services
Australians can now access extended Family Assistance services at their local Medicare office. A joint initiative between the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Medicare Australia and Centrelink that started on 1 July 2005, now sees all 238 Medicare offices offering extended Family Assistance services.
Baby bonus
The Baby Bonus payment is a one-off payment of $4,133* paid as a lump sum to families following the birth or adoption (including stillborn) of a baby born on or after 1 July 2004.
A claim must be lodged within 26 weeks from the date of birth and applicants must meet eligibility requirements within 13 weeks of the baby coming into the care of the claimant. Claim forms are available from your local Medicare office.
For more information visit the Family Assistance Office’s website or call 136 150 between 8am and 8pm (local time) Monday to Friday.
* At certain times, the rate of payment a customer can receive is adjusted in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and other increases set by the Government.
Last updated: 16 July, 2008