Parenting Payments Help Families in Need

Parenting payments are provided to ensure that the welfare of children is not compromised due to financial troubles in a family. The assistance in the form of financial payments helps parents continue to meet the essential needs of their children when the family budget is short due to unforeseen financial problems.

What are parenting payments?
Parenting payments also referred to as income support payment and allowances, are paid to parents or guardians too help them raise a child and provide them with a better life. Qualifications are based on certain conditions.
 
The payments are through Centrelink and these payments may include the following:

• Carrier allowance to help a rear a disabled child.
• Child care benefit subject to income.
• Child care rebate
• Working dad and partner pay subject to income
• Monetary assistance to families of children under 16 and unable to attend schooling due to geographic isolation. It includes allowances for renting a second home, boarding, having distance education and pension support.
• Double orphan pension for children without original parents
• Family tax benefit subject to income.
• Single-parent tax benefit subject to income.
• Newborn upfront and supplement payments subject to income.
• Parental leave pay for mothers subject to income.
• Parenting payment for low-income groups
• Schoolkid’s bonus for families of kids attending primary or secondary school

How much is paid as parenting payment?
Parenting payments vary depending on the financial conditions of a family. The maximum limit is updated twice a year – March 20th and September 20th.  According to rates until August 2015, the maximum fortnightly payment for single parent is $725. The limit for a couple is $468 and $561 for separated parents. The payment is made to one of the parents or the principal carer, including foster parents, grandparents or a caretaker.

 
Additionally, qualified parents can receive a host of other payments, such as education entry payment, income support bonus, energy supplement, pharmaceutical allowance and rent reduction benefit.

Who is eligible for parenting payments?

You can claim parenting payments only if you are

• a resident of Australia
• a citizen staying for 104 weeks or more or a refugee or become a lone parent recently
• single and have one child below 8 years or a couple and have one child below 6 years
• able to meet income and asset requirements
• able to meet mutual obligation requirements

What are income and asset requirements for getting parenting payments?

The eligibility criterion is updated twice a year as before mentioned and the current test limits are as follows:

• Single parent with income less than $186.60 per fortnight get $24.60 per child parenting Those earning less than $2,030 are entitled for a part payment.
• Couples with combined earnings under $204 per fortnight are entitled for $24.60 per child parenting Those with less than $1,843 combined income or $921 single income are eligible for part payments.

An evaluation of assets, including real estate, retirement contribution, investments, business outlay and loans is carried out to attest your eligibility for parenting payments.

 
Additional financial assistance options for families on Centrelink include an Advanced Payment, Crisis Payments and a range of other responsible lending services from non-profits.