Does the amount of contact with your children affect your entitlement to receive Family Tax Benefit A or other Family Assistance Payments?

The short answer is yes.

A contact parent who has ”regular care” to the children i.e. 52 to 127 nights (2 to 4 nights a fortnight) may not get Family Tax Benefit A or other family assistance payments.

A contact parent who has “shared care” to the children, between 128 to 237 nights a year (5 to 9 nights a fortnight), both parents may receive family assistance payment and both parents can share in the Family Tax Benefit Part A.

A parent who has the children live with them over 86% of the time, i.e. 314 nights a year as a minimum, receive 100% of the Family Tax Benefit Part A.

The level of child support recognises shared parenting and the contact each parent makes towards the costs of the children through direct care. 

Please contact Nevett Ford Lawyers on 03 9614 7111 if you have queries about Child Support.