2014-15 Commonwealth Budget - Welfare

Family Tax Benefit

FTB-A

	Current	Changes
Rate	The FTB-A maximum rate is: $172.20 per fortnight for each child aged under 13; and $224.00 per fortnight for children 13-15 or up to 19 where in full time secondary school. The FTB-A base rate of is currently $55.16 per fortnight for each child. These rates are indexed to CPI each year.	The rates of FTB-A will remain at current rates until 30 June 2016.
Eligibility	Families can earn: $48,837 without losing the maximum rate of FTB-A; and $94,316 without losing any base rate. The maximum rate threshold is indexed to CPI each year. Indexation of the base rate threshold is currently paused until 30 June 2017.	The eligibility threshold for FTB-A maximum rate will remain at current levels until 30 June 2017.
	The per child add on increases the income a family can earn while continuing to receive the FTB-A base rate. The per child add on of $3,796 for each additional child after the first builds on the high income free area of $94,316.	The high income free area will be $94,316 for all families.
End-of-year supplement	$726.35 per child. This amount is indexed to CPI each year.	From 1 July 2015, the supplement will be $600 per child and remain at this rate.
Large Family Supplement	$12.04 per fortnight paid for the third and each subsequent child in a family.	From 1 July 2015, the supplement will be paid for the fourth and each subsequent child
Single Parent Assistance	Single parents do not receive additional FTB-A compared to partnered parents.	From 1 July 2015, single parents receiving the maximum rate of FTB-A will receive extra assistance of $750 a year for each child aged between six and 12 once their youngest child turns six.
Additional Assistance	Newborn Supplement and Upfront Payment Stillborn Baby Payment Multiple Birth Allowance Rent Assistance	There are no changes to these payments.

FTB‑B

	Current	Changes
Rate	The FTB‑B maximum rate is: $146.44 per fortnight for each family where the youngest child is under five; and $102.20 per fortnight for each family where the youngest child is five to 15 or up to the end of the calendar year the child turns 18 where in full-time secondary school. These rates are indexed to CPI each year.	The rates of FTB‑B will remain at current rates until 30 June 2016.
Eligibility	FTB‑B is no longer paid when the higher income earner's income exceeds $150,000.	From 1 July 2015, the higher income earner test threshold will be $100,000.
	The secondary income earner can earn up to $5,183 before their FTB‑B is reduced. These thresholds are indexed to CPI each year.	The eligibility threshold for FTB‑B will remain at current levels until 30 June 2017.
	Families can receive FTB‑B until their youngest child turns 16 or up to the end of the calendar year the child turns 18 if they are in full-time secondary school.	From 1 July 2015, families will receive FTB‑B until their youngest child turns six. Existing recipients will continue to receive payments for two years. This means that families already receiving FTB‑B at this time will receive FTB‑B until 30 June 2017.
End-of-year supplement	$354.05 per family. This amount is indexed to CPI each year.	From 1 July 2015, the FTB‑B Supplement will be $300 per family and remain at this rate.

Working age payments

Working age allowances

	Current	Changes
Income thresholds	People on working age allowances such as Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance can have income up to certain thresholds before their payments are reduced due to the income test. Thresholds are typically indexed to CPI each year. For example, the income thresholds for Newstart Allowance are currently $100 and $250 per fortnight.	The thresholds will remain at current levels until 30 June 2017.
Assets thresholds	People on working age allowances can have assessable assets up to certain thresholds before they no longer receive payment. Thresholds are indexed to CPI each year. For example, the current assets threshold for a single homeowner is $196,750.	The thresholds will remain at current levels until 30 June 2017.

Current

Changes

Income thresholds

People on working age allowances such as Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance can have income up to certain thresholds before their payments are reduced due to the income test. Thresholds are typically indexed to CPI each year.

For example, the income thresholds for Newstart Allowance are currently $100 and $250 per fortnight.

The thresholds will remain at current levels until 30 June 2017.

Assets thresholds

People on working age allowances can have assessable assets up to certain thresholds before they no longer receive payment. Thresholds are indexed to CPI each year. For example, the current assets threshold for a single homeowner is $196,750.