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We’ll tell you what documents we need for the event specific to you. You need to provide these within 14 days.
The documents must prove both of the following:
- the event happened within the last 6 months
- you have a substantial reduction in your ability to pay child care fees because of the event.
You may also need to provide evidence to show the link between the event and financial hardship. This may include any of the following:
- payment of rental bond
- bank statements showing a reduction of income, essential spending and reduced savings
- a report from a financial counselling service
- debt repayment agreements
- any other evidence you have to explain your circumstances.
You can also provide a statutory declaration stating how the event has reduced your ability to pay child care fees.
Loss of employment
If you or your partner lose your job, you can give us any of the following:
- an Employment Separation Certificate including a reason other than resignation or retirement
- a letter from your employer
- a letter from an accountant.
You can also provide a statutory declaration stating you’ve lost your job, and not retired or resigned.
Loss of income or business failure
You need to give us documents if you or your partner has experienced either:
- loss of income
- a business failure due to circumstances outside your control, such as serious illness.
You can give us any of the following:
- legal documents indicating business failure
- bank statements
- reports from an accountant or financial adviser where there has been an existing relationship
- a medical certificate.
You can also provide a statutory declaration stating you’ve lost income or had a business failure due to circumstances outside your control.
Loss of income due to the death of someone who paid you child support
To be eligible the person must have been providing ongoing financial assistance for the child under the child support agreement.
You can give us any of the following:
- a death certificate, if we don’t already have it
- verification of death, for example a funeral notice or death notice
- evidence of the child support arrangements
- evidence of child support payments, for example, a bank statement showing regular payments from the deceased child support payer
- a letter from an accountant.
Major disaster
If you have experienced a major disaster event which includes destruction or severe damage to your home, you can give us any of the following:
- a fire report
- a police or incident report
- an insurance report, or a letter from your insurance company.
You can also provide a statutory declaration stating a major disaster event has destroyed or severely damaged your or your partner’s home.
If you’re affected by a formally declared natural disaster and you’re eligible for assistance, you can give us proof of either:
- your Australian Government Disaster Relief Payment (AGDRP) or Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) application
- your state or territory government hardship relief payment.
Family and domestic violence
If you’re affected by family and domestic violence, you can give us any of the following:
- a police or incident report
- a medical certificate
- a court document
- a signed statement from a social worker, counsellor, doctor or other party.
You can also provide a statutory declaration stating you’re affected by family or domestic violence.
Death of a partner or child
If your partner or child has died, you can give us any of the following:
- a death certificate, if we don’t already have it
- verification of the death of your child or partner, for example a funeral notice or death notice
- a court document
- a signed statement from a social worker, counsellor, doctor or other party
- a receipt relating to medical or funeral expenses.
You can also provide a statutory declaration stating your partner or child has died.