3.1.4.20 Standard Rate - FTB Part A Method 1

Standard rate

An individual's standard rate (1.1.S.103) is the sum of their FTB child rates (1.1.F.57).

The standard rate is added to the individual's rate of LFS, MBA, FTB Part A supplement and RA to arrive at the individual's maximum rate (1.1.M.26). The income test and maintenance income tests are applied to the maximum rate to calculate the individual's rate of FTB Part A. The FTB Part A supplement is not paid until after the end of the financial year after FTB reconciliation.

Act reference: FAAct Schedule 1 clause 7 Standard rate

Policy reference: FA Guide 3.1.1.20 Current FTB Rates & Income Test Amounts

Maintenance action

The FTB child rate is restricted to the base FTB child rate (1.1.B.15) if the individual or their partner (1.1.P.30):

• is entitled to receive child support for an FTB child, and
• does not take reasonable action to obtain child support.

Act reference: FAAct Schedule 1 clause 10 Effect of certain maintenance rights

Policy reference: FA Guide 3.1.5 Maintenance Action Test for FTB Part A

Receiving a periodic payment

When an applicant/recipient or their partner receives a periodic payment under a law of the Commonwealth or under a scheme administered by the Commonwealth that provides for an increase in the rate of payment by reference to an FTB child, they are only entitled to the base FTB child rate for that child.

Explanation: A periodic payment under a law/scheme of the Commonwealth includes:

• Agreement pensions (1.1.A.60) paid under the Social Security Act 1991,
• Exceptional Circumstances and Farm Family Restart payments paid under the Farm Household Support Act 1992, and
• Service pensions paid under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

Act reference: FAAct Schedule 1 clause 9 FTB child rate - recipient of other periodic payments

Effect of shared care

For FTB Part A, if a determination has been made because care of an FTB child is shared, the percentage of care is used to determine the FTB shared care percentage and applied to the FTB child rate for that child before the person's standard rate of FTB Part A is calculated (the standard rate is the sum of the FTB child rates).

A shared care determination does not apply to sharing FTB for a:

• blended family, or
• separated couple who claim FTB for a past period prior to separation.

Explanation: In these situations, the payment of FTB is shared after the total rate has been calculated.

Act reference: FAAct Schedule 1 clause 11 Sharing FTB (shared care percentages)

Policy reference: FA Guide 2.1.1.25 Shared Care of an FTB Child, 3.1.1.30 Shared Care Rate for FTB, 3.1.1.32 Sharing FTB in Blended Families - from July 2008, 3.1.1.34 Sharing FTB for Separated Couples

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Last reviewed: 2 January 2013