A few small changes to the original proposed payment rates have occurred. As it stands, the rates for the various bonus payments administered by Centrelink will be as follows:
| Single Income Family Bonus | $900 per family |
| Back to School Bonus | $950 per eligible child |
| Farmer’s Hardship Bonus | $950 |
| Training & Learning Bonus | $950 |
| Education Entry Payment Bonus | $950 on top of the usual EdEP of $208 |
Article by Christie Lewis
Christie is Practice Manager at Alan Lewis Accountants . Besides accounting, her passion is for all things small business (and blogging, of course). You can contact Christie directly at christie@lewistaxation.com.au.
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{ 70 comments… read them below or add one }
im just wondering i worked for most of the 2007-2008 financial year, i gave up work to have a child and am now on the single mothers pension i do receive family tax benefit b, people tell me im entitled to the new stimulus but i am uncertain as othres tell me because i received the first stimulus at xmas im not entitled, do you know the answer?
Hi Nicole,
You will still receive this bonus payment. Whether or not you received money before Christmas is not taken into consideration for this stimulus package at all.
Provided you were entitled to receive FTB-B on 3 Feb 2009, you will receive the Single Income Family Bonus payment. This will be paid automatically by Centrelink between 11 and 20 March.
Hope that helps.
Hi Christie,
Very interesting reading, same sort of questions I guess, Im a single mum with 2 school aged children, just wondering which bonus’s we’re likely to get and how much. Certainly entitled to FTB on Feb 3 09.
Thanks for your help and HOPE
Cheers Leanne
Hi Leanne
As a single mum, you should be getting the maximum FTB-B. This will automaticlaly qualify you for the $900 single income family bonus. This is for the household, irrespective of the number of kids.
I assume you also receive at least some, if not full, FTB-A which will mean you will also receive a $950 Back to School bonus payment for each of your children. So far that’s 900+950+950=$2,800.
These particular payments will be made by Centrelink during March.
Depending on other factors, and your situation last financial year, you could still qualify for the Tax Office’s $900 tax bonus (that’s a bit more complicated so you might want to read my post on the Working Australians tax bonus to see if you may).
Hope that helps.
Hey all,
I am a partnered mum with 2 kids under 3 and another on the way. I work full time currently and my partner is only working casual where he can.
Because my kids are under school age does this mean that due to having a partner and non school aged kids i get nothing?
Teigan
Hi Teigan,
There are five different bonus payments under the Household Stimulus Package. Receiving one does not usually disqualify for receiving others, provided you qualify for the particular bonus type.
With regard to the payments administered by Centrelink, your eligibility really depends on what, if any, benefits your household was entitled to at 3 Feb 2009. In order to receive the Single Income Family Bonus ($900), for instance, you would need to have been eligible for Family Tax Benefit part B at that date.
The Working Australians Tax Bonus is different again and this is solely based on your 2007/08 income tax assessment. It is possible that both you and your partner can receive this tax bonus if you each qualify. In order to qualify for the bonus, you must have an adjusted tax liability for 2007/08. I’ve posted on this elsewhere, but I’ll repeat myself here again so you have all the info you need in the one spot.
Take a look at your Notice of Assessment for 2007/08 (this is the letter the ATO sent you after they processed the tax return you sent). There are assessment codes down the right-hand side of the letter corresponding with figures. The calculation is simply A+O-G. If the amount is more than nil, you will receive the tax bonus payment.
Tax on Taxable Income (A) + Medicare Levy (O) – Rebates and Other Credits (G): if any of these items are missing, you can ignore them for this calculation.
Provided your offsets didn’t exceed your tax liabilities (ie. at the end of the day, you paid some tax) you will automatically receive the tax bonus. This is paid by the Tax Office from early April. The tax bonus is assessed individually so you can check your partners Assessment the same way if he lodged a tax return in 2007/08.
hi i was just wondering i will get my regular ftb payment on the 11th march so what i want to know is will i also get the back to school bonus on the same day or is it paid separately i know they said betwwen the 11-20 march but i was just curious as to know do them bonus payments get paid with your regular ftb
Hi Irlene,
That’s a question for Centrelink, I’m afraid.
I would assume that you would receive with it with your regular fortnightly payment (on the day that falls between 11-20 March) but we have only been given a date range to inform people of. As such, my guess would be as good as yours.
If you are registered for online services with them, you should be able to view upcoming payments. Perhaps that will give you a date if you get nowhere over the phone?
Regards,
Christie
I am a single mum of 2, and i also started a tafe course this year. I realise that i am eligible for the $900 single income family bonus and the $950 per back to school aged child, but i am just wondering whether i am also eligible for the $950 Education entry payment and the $950 Training and learning bonus?? My course is not a continuation from last year, it only commenced this Feb 9th and is only an 18 week course, it is however classed as a full time course.
Thankyou for your advice on above responses!
This money couldnt come at a better time personally!
Hi Amanda,
First of all, it is possible to qualify for and receive both. That said, in order to receive the one-off Training & Learning Bonus you must have been in receipt of certain Centrelink payments at 3 Feb 2009. These include Austudy, Youth Allowance, Sickness Allowance, etc.. It doesn’t sound as if you would meet that criteria.
However, the Temporary Supplement to the Education Entry Payment should still be available to you if you are on Parenting Payment (Single). You will need to apply for the Education Entry Payment so I’d head into your local Centrelink and find out more.
Best of luck!
hi all ive had a look on the centrelink online servicesfor payment details and even though i get paid on the 11th march it is not yet showing up the bonus payments for me however i have been informed that these bonus payments are meant to be paid with your regular ftb and that they may not actually appear until 2 days before payment is to be made hopefully this information that i have been told is correct
Thanks for the update, Irene.
I know a few people were wondering the same thing so I can direct them to your comment.
hi im on the psp program am i still intitled to recieve a payment.
Hi Shannan
Is that the Personal Support Programme? As best I can tell, your eligibiility is still going to come down to whether or not you qualify for one of the Centrelink Bonus payments based on your circumstances/benefit entitlement at 3 Feb.
I have posted detailed eligibility requirements on each payment in a separate post on the site.
Back to School Bonus
Training & Learning Bonus
Farmer’s Hardship Bonus
Single Income Family Bonus
In short, if you have children you receive Family Tax Benefit Part A or B for, you will receive a bonus. If you are a student on Youth Allowance or Austudy, you should receive a bonus. If you are returning to study or training after being on benefits for more than a month, you should receive a payment, etc….
See eligibility at a glance for a quick overview of eligibility for the Centrelink Bonus Payments.
well i finally got onto centrelink and this is what they told me,as the bonus payments are a ftb payment then u should recieve the bonus on the same week,so if its not in with your ftb then its should be in the bank a day or two after you recieve your regular payment,so for example those who would get their regular payment on tuesday 10th marchshould recieve the bonus payments on the wednesday or thursday and so forth hope this helps as everyone seems to get told different things from centrelink
Thanks for the update, Irene.
It actually came in quite handy for me when advising someone over the phone yesterday on possible payment dates!
About the back to school bonus.I’m a single parent and I know I will get FTB and school bonus but someone has told me that because I get carers allowence for my son I will get an extra school bonus. Is this true?
Hi Sharon,
The Back to School bonus payment is one of the few payments with a couple of additional conditions applied to it.
What this means is that if you qualify for the BTS Bonus for a child based on your eligibility due to receiving FTB-A for them, that child will not be eligible for any further BTS bonus payment based on their eligibililty due to carers/disability.
I hope that helps.
Hi im nawal and im 17years old, i am just wondering i have a part time job and i am elligable for the bonus in that catergory but i also get youth allowance and im elligable for the bonus in that catergory as well, does that mean i get two bonus payments? one for work and one for centre link? i have tryed asking around and havent been able to get an answer?
Hi Nawal,
Yes, you can be eligible for two or even more bonus payments if you qualify for each of them. The Working Australians Tax Bonus is entirely separate from other bonus payments.
For eligibility on the tax bonus, check my post and comments here to ensure you had an adjusted tax liability in order to qualify. It would be unusual for a 17-year old with only part-time employment to meet the minimum taxable income needed to generate a tax liability. There’s also an online Tax Bonus Eligibilty Calculator available you might want to check out.
Hi, I am a mum of a three year old boy (will be 4 in May) who is attending kindergarten, from what I have read, he is not eligible for the back to school bonus yet his classmates who have already turned four will be. We paid the same fees as all the other students, why should we be excluded. Why did they use 3 Feb for a cut off date, surely it should follow the school enrolment guidelines. It can hardly be called a back to school bonus if not all students are getting it and kids who are not enrolled at school are still eligible.
Hi Lurrell,
I expect that the back to school bonus is available to 4 year olds because in some states children do start primary school at 4 years (I’m guessing at Governmental logic here so who knows?). Frankly, I’m surprisied that children as young as 4 were included at all.
I’m sure it feels unfair that other children in your son’s class will receive the bonus and you will not. When something such as bonus payments are given, I notice that people who do not qualify usually perceive it personally as their being excluded… and not simply a matter of not all people will qualify. I doubt I can change perceptions so all I can really do is sympathise with your frustration.
Feb 3 was chosen for the cut-off date as this was the date the Rudd Government announced their intention to introduce the Household Stimulus Package. It seems an odd date to me too. As the package entails a total of six different bonus payments, I assume it would not have been viable to base the legislation on school enrolment guidelines (which, again, vary between states).
I would really encourage you to pass on your feelings about it to the people in charge… send an email off to Parliament or write your local member. I know this isn’t going to get your son the bonus payment, but it might make you feel better and it’s important that individual voices get heard.
Best of luck.
I get paid after the 20th of march , do i still recieve the payments before then or do I have to wait?
Hi Samantha
See Irene’s comment below.
centrelink have a new page up now stating that bonus payments will be paid on your normal payday so if u go to the centrelink website and click onto the household stimulus package the details are now there
sorry 4got to add that also bonus payments will not show up on the expected payments until 2 days before payment is to be made
You are an absolute gem, Irene.
im a single mum of one child i do get the ftb-b and ftb-a from centerlink i get my pay on 12th this week ,i went on centerlink site for the last 3 days ,all it shows up is my normal payment for the 12th and my penions on the 19th but does not show any bonuns my child is 5yo and is in grade 1 at school yet nothings there on the centerlink site at all
check the centrelink website on monday as they are down this weekend,if its not showing on monday it should show on tuesday,as your regular payment isnt till the thursday,it does not show up on the expected payments until 2 days before the payment is to be made.hope this helps.
Hi Linda,
Please see Irene’s comments below (thanks Irene).
For what it’s worth, I have school aged children and I am not seeing anything either so I wouldn’t panic yet.
sorry christie if im intruding
Not at all. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate any help you can offer. Feel free to jump in any time!!!
Hi,
Im on newstart allowence im attending a 6 month course at TAFE part time i was just wondering if i am entitled to the bonus
Hi Helen
When did your course start? Did you apply for or receive the $208 Education Entry Payment? Do you know if your course qualifies for this payment?
I ask because the EdEP supplement is going to be backdated to include anyone entitled to it on or after 1 January 2009.
in the sunday mail qld today there is a small section which says who gets the bonus payments. it says, and i quote in full, “carers and those on a disability support pension will have $950 deposited into their nominated account in their next payment cycle after wednesday”. now i was sure the DSP/Carers was only in relation to families with children / students, but this reads as all DSP/carers will get this payment. did the sunday mail stuff up or has something changed? thank you
Hi Tracey
Well, it’s part of the Back to School Bonus but, incredibly, the legislation makes no proviso regarding schooling at all for carer/dsp.
According to the law:
According to Centrelink:
To top it off, the Back to School Bonus factsheet issued by the Treasury doesn’t even mention carers/dsp at all!
You will note though that not all people on these payments will automatically receive the bonus payment, but that certain age limitations apply.
thanks christie, it is as i thought then with no changes to include Carer’s/DSP without children. i know a few DSP’s who have become quite excited from the statement in the sunday mail (inc myself but i had read about the children part on the centrelink website some time ago), so it appears that it has been written incorrectly by the reporter then. i’ve written to sunday mail’s comments page as well but it has not been published at this stage, hopefully they will address it somehow. thank you.
bonus payments are now starting to show on the centrelink website
to 2 days before my payment ,yet still no bonus showing on centerlink site , so 2days before hand not so true
Hi, Im a single mum of two, one which started school this year, I recieve full ftb B and ftb A , I also recieve carer alowance. I also started full time study this year and have already recieved my $208 education entry payment. Im just wondering which bonus’s am I entitled to?
Thankyou
Hi Lei
As a recipeint of FTB-B you will receive a $900 Single Income Family Bonus for the household.
As a recipient of FTB-A you will receive a $950 Back to School bonus payment for each eligible school-age child you recive FTB-A for (aged 4-18 inclusive).
Centrelink have also said they will be backdating the bonus Education Entry Payment of $950 to include anyone entitled to the $208 on or after 1 January 2009, so there’s a good chance if you fit that category, you will also receive the EdEP supplement.
I hope that helps.
Hi,
I’m now thoroughly confused. I also read the comment in the newspaper stating ‘people on DSP would be getting an additional $940.00′ … is that everyone, or people under 19 who were on a DSP when the moon was rising in Aquarius and going back to full time education sometime around the turn of the next century?
Seriously … was it only a select group of people (or DSPers), or is EVERYONE on the DSP (like, for instance, married people in their 30s who are both on the DSP, not studying, with no kids) getting this bonus (because it sure would come in useful)?
The Centrelink site is no help – they’re still stating that they’ll be closed for the weekend we just had …
Hi,
Sorry, but I had to laugh when I read your post.
As best I can tell, it is only people on DSP who were under 19 years at 3 Feb. I’ve checked the legislation several times now aswell as a few Government sites and they would all seem to confirm this same stipulation.
I’d be interested to know where the paper got their info from so I can check into it myself!
Hi There =)
I am currently on Single Parenting Payment recieving centrelink and both FTB A & B.. I understand that i will be recieving the $900 bonus between the mentioned March dates, although i am enquiring as to if i will also recieve the taxpayers $900 bonus in April as i was a working taxpayer at the times mentioned.
Cheers!
Hi Cara
If you qualify for the tax bonus, you will receive it also. The tax bonus is based solely on your 2007/08 income tax assessment. Basically, you need to have had an adjusted tax liabilty. This means that your tax payable was more than your offsets/rebates claimed.
Take a look at your Notice of Assessment for 2007/08. There are assessment codes down the right-hand side of the letter corresponding with figures. The calculation is simply A+O-G. If the amount is more than nil, you will receive the tax bonus payment.
Tax on Taxable Income (A) + Medicare Levy (O) – Rebates and Other Credits (G): if any of these items are missing, you can ignore them for this calculation.
Provided your offsets didn’t exceed your tax liabilities (ie. at the end of the day, you paid some tax) you will automatically receive the tax bonus.
I hope that helps.
Hi There,
Im 18, I’ve just finished my HSC last year and im currently studying full-time at TAFE, i don’t work and ive heard that i maybe entitled to a $900 bonus is that true? and how would i no i have recieved the money because my allowence isnt sent to my bank account. and before i started my course i notified centrelink that im intending to study and where what course etc. but do i have to give them the enrolment application to prove i study there or can they call the campus and find out themselves. i am very confused with all of this please help! much appreciated!!
Hi Christie. Totaly confussed so will give my details & you can advise me.
I am 67 yrs old & care for my 13 yr old grandson who attends secondary collage. I recieve $8,668 centrelink payment & as lower earner recieve part A & part B family assistance. Am I entitled to Back to School or Low Income bonus?
My husband recieves Superanuation Income stream of $23,224 per year, plus $8,668 centrelink. 2007/2008 he paid $650 tax. After tax offsets etc he recieved $782.41 refund. Does he recieve any bonus as he paid tax (2007/2009) or does the refund alter all that?
Thanks Ash
Hi Ashton,
If you are receiving Part A and Part B from Centrelink and your grandson is at secondary college then you should receive the $950 Back to School Bonus and the $900 Single Income Family Bonus.
As for your husband it is a little difficult to determine whether he had an adjusted tax liability because I don’t know the taxable make-up of the Superannuation Income Stream.
However, if $650 tax was withheld from his income and he received a refund $782.41, it would appear that he had an adjusted tax liability of nil and may not be eligible for the $900 Working Australians Tax Bonus.
im just confused about it all.
who is entitled to what?
Hello, i am a single mother and im wondering will i receive the $900 bonus! my daughter is only 5 months though!
Thanks
Hi Michelle
If you receive family tax benefit part B (I assume you do as a sole parent), you will be entitled to the $900 single income family bonus.
will i still get the school bonus for my 9 year old son even tho im not on center-link any more ? Was reciving centerlink ( single parent & a-b payments ) up till dec 08 ( im now in a relationship )
Hi Megan,
If you are not receiving any FTB fortnightly at the moment, you will not get the back to school bonus when it is paid this month.
Once you and your partner have both lodged your tax return for 2008/09 in a couple of months time, you should then put in an annual Family Tax Benefit claim with Centrelink. This used to be done on your tax return but from 1 July must be done through Centrelink. If you have any entitlement to FTB-A after they calculate a reconciliation, you will then be paid the back to school bonus at that time.
Your other alternative, depending on your partner’s income, would be update your income estimates and change your preference to fortnightly payments. If you have any entitlement, you should receive the back to school bonus as per usual. Centrelink can best advise you how to go about doing this and whether or not you would be eligible for any FTB-A at the moment based on your new household income and number of dependents.
Hi,Im 19 and on youth allowance and undertaking centrelink approved job search training. It doesnt say anything about the people looking for work on the centrelink site. i was just wondering if i get the bonus at all?
Thanks
Matilda
Hi Matilda
There is no bonus payment specific to jobseekers. You may have options available to you if you were to enrol in an approved course of study. Centrelink will be able to tell you whether or not you will qualify for the Education Entry Payment Supplement bonus if you find such a course..or even if your current job search training qualifies. You do need to apply for the EdEP so it is best to speak directly with Centrelink.
hi i’m on a dsp
and my wife stays home to look after me and my daughter who is going to early intervention what should we be looking forward to? if anything!
Hi, I am a postgraduate student on a scholarship. My scholarship is funded through my university, it is equivalent to an australian postgraduate award in terms of pay, and in that it is tax-free. I have heard the training and learning bonus is now given under the senate amendments to postgradutes on ‘Australian postgraduate awards’. I am not sure if this refers to all postgraduate stipends or just official APAs.
so far the centerlink website doesn’t even mention postgrad scholarships. I would appreciate any answer you could give me!
Hi Alex,
There is nothing in the current legislation regarding postgraduates, however there has been talk of an upcoming ‘administrative scheme’ to pay $950 bonus to certain students who missed the first round of payments.
According to the Treasury the administrative scheme payments will include “full time postgraduate students receiving Australian Postgraduate Awards (stipends) this semester.”
I’m afraid that is all of the information I have at the moment. There are a lot of peoplpe waiting on specifics of this ‘administrative scheme’ but, as yet, details are still few and far between.
Naturally, I’ll keep the blog updated with news of the scheme as soon as anything new emerges.
Hi, I am 20 years old and I am currently unemplyed and my intentions are to study through the governments PPP program, however I have only been unemployed for 3 months and to be eligible it must be 4 months, in the mean time I must do compusolry “job search” training, which is highly fustrating as my intentions are to study a fulltime, 5 days a week coarse once I have reached 4 months, knowing this I feel I am wasting my time job searching, when I have made it clear it is not my career choice nor is it helping me to look for a full-time job when I will be commencing fulltime study in less than 4 weeks?! Will I qualify for the training and learning bonus payment as it is my intention to study, however it is not signed and sealed as yet? I know a few people in this same situation and it is fustrating because now one knows? centrelink only explains for youth allowance (students and apprentices) and EDep is for comfirmed, enrolled youth allowance recipients. I recieve $300 a fornight, lost my job, have a personal loan for my car, debts climbing and apparently I may not be “eligible” because I CANNOT study yet.. the system is so contradicting, would you know what I am intitled to? I will be recieving the tax bonus, but as for the centrelink, who knows, they dont even know!??
Hi all,
I was wondering which bonus we can get and how much? if we have one income ( $ 49000/ year) and we get carer allowence for my son who 4 year old on 28-2.
I’m 20 years old… im currently receiving cenrelink payments as a youth allowance ‘jobseeker’ does that mean i won’t b gettin the bonus 900bux?
is there any chance i’m eligible? and whats the tax bonus? is that different to the other payments? i really wanna know.. ><
Hi im doing flexible learning through rosny college and i was wondering if i got the bonus payment
i am currently studying at tafe SA. Im on youth allowance and i live away from home i dont pay tax. Am i entittaled to the $900 bonus?
hi there i joined youth allowence about 3 fornights ago will i recieve the 950 dollars, on my online info on the centrelink webpage it says my next payment will me $$$$ plus 950 so im a bit confused one lady at centrelink said ill be getting it and another lady said i joined centrelink too late but you would think if i wasnt getting it why state it on my online service that i will be ?????? confused please help
Hello, I am a stay at home mother of 2 school age girls, and my partner works away, I receive my FTB A & B in a lump sum payment at the end of the year after my partner has lodged his tax return and have done this for a few years now. My question is, are we eligible for any of the stimulas pmts (as we haven’t received any yet) and will we receive them at the end of the year with the FTB A&B. My partner earns $99000 p/y almost half of which goes to paying tax. Centrelink have both our details but only I receive the FTB A&B so does this mean that I have to see them???
Thank you
Hi Michelle,
You do not need to do anything special in order to receive any bonus payments you may be entitled to. If you claim Family Tax Benefit as an annual lump sum payment, you will still receive your bonus after you have lodged your Family Tax Benefit claim and your partner’s tax return at the end of the financial year.
Provided you are found to have been eligible for a period which include 3 Feb, this will be paid automatically with your FTB reconcilliation.
hi was wondering if im on jobseeker youth allowance someone told me that recently they were added onto the list of people eligible to get the $900 is that true? my friend went into centrelink and they told him “plain and simple some people who are jobseekers get it and some dont”
Hi,
I received a $900 bank deposit from Centrelink the other week as I’m on Sickness Allowance. What I was wondering is whether or not I will also be able to receive the other Tax Benefit $950 cheque payment (if I qualify that is- which I think I will). So is it poss to receive 2 x payments?
Thanks!
hello,
i was just wondering if i was studying from june 07 to june 08 at tafe do i still get the $950 also my brother was doing jobsearch while recieving centrelink payments and was curios if he gets the bonus aswell??? thankyou
hello,
i was just wondering if i was studying from june 07 to june 08 at tafe do i still get the $950 also my brother was doing jobsearch while recieving centrelink payments and was curios if he gets the bonus aswell??? thankyou plz send back to my email mel_07@myway.com