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Government's Childcare Benefit and Assistance
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The Federal Government has committed itself to promote the well-being of Australian families with children, to help parents to participate in training and entering into workforce and to benefit the broader community.
Family Day Care Start Up Payment:
Is an on-going program that provides assistance to potential Family Day Care Carer. The payment of $1500 assists the approved welfare recipients to start family day care businesses as a career option. It also assist the start-up of such services in an area with high number of welfare recipient families.
Additionally, The Remote Area Family Day Care Start Up Payment of $5,000 is intends to assist carers living in remote areas to undertake essential changes to the care environment to provide quality child care services in those areas.
The Government assistance provided for Australian families includes:
- Child Care Benefit:
It helps Australian families with the costs of child care. To be eligible for Child Care Benefit:
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The child must meet the immunization requirements
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The child care services have to be approved or registered care, and
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The recipient must be liable to pay for the child care services
The amount of benefit depends upon the family income and the number of children, even "high income" earning families may be eligible to receive minimum rate of Child Care Benefit. The current maximum amount of Benefit is approximately $168.50 per child per week for 50 hours of eligible care. The minimum hourly rate for high income family is $0.564 per child.
In the recent Budget, the Government announced that there will no longer be a minimum Child Care Benefit rate for approve child care. However, instead of the rate reducing only down to a minimum rate, it will continue to reduce until the rate is zero. The income levels at which the payment cuts out completely will depend on the number of children you have using approved child care. This change will affect only high income families.
Child Care Benefit Ready Reckoner 08-00
If your family’s adjusted taxable income is under the income limits, you can get a part rate of Child Care Benefit. The part rate is worked out using your Child Care Benefit percentage. The Child Care Benefit Ready Reckoner is used by your child care service provider to help with the estimation only of your family's Child Care Benefit percentage.
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Child Care Rebate:
The Child Care Tax Rebate provided to ALL Australian families through Australian Taxation Office to covers 50% of the total fees paid for child care expenses in approved child care less the amount of Child Care Benefit received, with a rebate up to $7,500 per child per year. Although is not "cash in hand", it offsets parents income tax liability.
Child Care Tax Rebate - Budget 08-09 Fact Sheet
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It helps Australian families with the cost of raising children; Depending on the number and age of the children, in some cases the eligible family income can be as high as $150,000 for the purpose of Family Tax Benefit Part A. The current maximum rate for each child under 13 years is $145.46 per fortnight.
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It provides extra assistance to single parents and to families with one main income where one parent chooses to stay at home to balance some paid work with caring for their children. The Part B benefit is provided to single parents regardless their income. However, in the two parents family situation, the amount of payment will be affected by the income of the partner who earns less, once it is in excessive of $4380. The maximum payment currently is $3 259.45.
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It is paid following the birth (Stillborn baby) or adoption of a baby. It is not income tested. Currently it is a one-off payment of $4,187 (indexed) for each baby. For young mothers aged 17 years or under, the Baby Bonus is paid in 13 equal fortnight instalments. This payment is not considered income for Family Assistance or SocialSecurity purposes.
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Are issued automatically if you are entitled to receive the maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A and you get your payment through the Family Assistance Office. It will benefit you in:
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obtaining concession with pharmaceuticals under PBS (Phamaceutical Benefits Scheme);
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bulk-billing with GP's appointment
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reducing the costs of out-of-hospital medical expenses through the Medicare Safety Net.
Other types of Health Care Cards are available under certain circumstances, eg. under a social security income support payment system.
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Another additional help with the cost of approved child care for eligible parents undertaking activities such as job search, work, study or rehabilitation as a part of an activity agreement, to help them enter or re-enter the workforce.
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A supplementary payment for parents or carers who provide daily care and attention for children under 16 years with a disability or severe medical condition at home. It is not income tested, but depends upon the severity of the disability or illness. The payment may be additional to Carer Payment (child).
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Children's Care 
