Australia is poised to implement a $7,550 Child Benefit for 2025, a significant government initiative to assist families with children. These payments are in the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) scheme. Families are required to follow certain conditions, including eligibility criteria, timelines, and payment processes, to attain the payments.
Learning about the $7,550 Child Benefit
The $7,550 Child Benefit payment is provided to qualifying families to help with important costs associated with raising a child in Australia. The Family Tax Benefit is made of two parts. Part A is a per child payment, and is adjusted according to each family’s situation. Part B offers additional payments to families that are single income earners and to single parents. These payments are intended to help families alleviate the financial burden and assist children to obtain the necessities of life.
Who qualifies?
In regards the 2025 Child Benefit, Australia has laid down a few conditions that must be met.
The dependent child must be under 18, or must be aged 16-19, attending a prescribed course of study.
The applicant, must provide 35% of the care to the child.
Residency test must be met. The main carer must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or hold an appropriate temporary visa.
Income testing applies, and support level continues to drop as family income increases. New residents may have to wait, with some exceptions, up to a year for benefits.
Children also have age-related immunisation and health check requirements.
Payment Frequency and Key Dates
Payment frequency options are fortnightly or in annual instalments after the financial year. Claims can be submitted up to three months before a child is born or enters the family and must be done within twelve months after the financial year. For those on fortnightly payments, 2025 payments start in early July after the final balancing of your claims on June 30.
Claiming Steps
Families must have a myGov account linked with Centrelink to apply. Other required documents include proof of birth, residency documents, and income tax documents. Applications are online, and families should check their claim status on myGov or the Centrelink app. For annual lump sum payments, claims must be submitted before the cut-off. Primary documents will be required for some claims, mainly children’s schooling or immunisation records.
Short Table: Application Overview
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Age of Child | Under 18, or student 16–19 |
| Care Percentage | Minimum 35% |
| Residency | Australian citizen/resident |
| Income Test | Yes, adjusts payment |
| Payments Start | July 2025 (fortnightly/lump sum) |
Additional Guidelines and Balancing
The payment amount can depend on a family’s size, income, and other benefits received. At the end of every financial year, Services Australia ‘balances’ the payments and corrects any over- or under-payments, by looking at what has been paid versus the actual family income. Not lodging a tax return in time could cause a payment to be delayed or lost. Certain families may receive supplementary one-off bonuses or top-ups at the end of the year.
FAQs
Q1. Can new arrivals to Australia apply immediately?
Most will need to wait one year, but some exemptions apply.
Q2. Do all children qualify for the $7,550?
Only dependent children that are under 18 or students that are aged 16-19 and are meeting study requirements are eligible.
Q3. How do payments get adjusted after application?
If the actual income of the family gets reported at the year’s end, which differs from the estimate, Services Australia will adjust payments, which could cause overpaid benefits to be repaid.
