If you get FTB and Child Care Subsidy, it’s twice as important your family income estimate is accurate.
If you earn more than what you estimated, we may pay you too much subsidy and FTB. If this happens, you’ll owe us money which you’ll have to pay back.
If you overestimate your income and don’t get enough subsidy or FTB, we may pay you a top up when we balance your payments. Read about how we balance your FTB payments and how we balance your CCS payments.
Read more about how your income affects Child Care Subsidy.
What you need to do
You need to let us know when there’s a change to your family’s income. You may also want to update your subsidy withholding percentage or your FTB payment choice.
Update your family’s income estimate
Even a small change in your family’s income can affect your payment. When you know there may be a change, update your family income estimate as soon as possible.
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to update your estimate.
You can also use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. It only takes a few minutes to do.
If you don’t have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account you’ll need to create them.
Adjust the subsidy amount withheld
You can increase your subsidy withholding percentage. We withhold 5% of your subsidy payments to help reduce the chance of you owing money. You can increase your withholding online, up to two times a year.
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to update your withholding.
You can also use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. It only takes a few minutes to do.
Example where a family underestimates their income
Monique and Jon have a child in centre based care 5 days a week. Monique has claimed Child Care Subsidy. At the start of the financial year, Monique estimated their family income to be $67,000. Monique estimates she will earn $50,000 and Jon will earn $17,000. Based on this we’ll subsidise the child care fees up to 85%.
During the year, Monique got $24,700 in subsidy paid direct to their child care provider. We withheld $1,300 in subsidy. Monique also got $3,900 in Family Tax Benefit Part A and Part B.
After balancing their payments, their actual family income was $82,000. Monique earned $60,000 and Jon earned $22,000 during the year.
Because Monique and Jon earned more than they estimated, they have an overpayment. The overpayment is $2,750 for FTB and Child Care Subsidy. We’ll use the $1,300 we withheld to reduce the amount of Child Care Subsidy owed. They’ll still have to pay back $1,450. This includes $230 in Child Care Subsidy, $580 in FTB Part A, and $640 in FTB Part B.