2026–27 Paid per child
Family Tax Benefit Part A Rates (2026–27)
Part A pays a set amount for each child, then takes it back through a two step income test. This page lists the 2026–27 rates, the free areas, the supplement, and the income at which the payment runs out.
The rates for 2026–27
| Rate | Per year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Child under 13 | $6,139.30 | The rate for most primary school children |
| Child 13 to 15, or 16 to 19 at secondary school | $7,989.85 | Pays more because teenagers cost more to raise |
| Part A supplement (per child) | $970.90 | Paid after the end of the income year, once FTB is reconciled |
| Base rate (per child) | $1,971.00 | The floor the rate cannot fall below while family income is under $123,078 |
These are annual figures. To turn one into a fortnightly amount Centrelink works out a daily rate — annual ÷ 365 — and pays 14 days at a time. So $6,139.30 a year is $235.48 a fortnight.
The income test, step by step
Part A uses your combined family income — you and your partner added together.
| Family income | What happens |
|---|---|
| Up to $69,131 | You get the maximum rate for the year |
| $69,131 to $123,078 | Reduced by 20 cents for every dollar over $69,131 |
| More than $123,078 | Reduced by 30 cents for every dollar over $123,078, until the payment is nil |
maximum rate − (income above the free area × taper) = your rate
On $95,000 with two children under 13: the maximum is 2 × $6,139.30 = $12,279. Income above the free area is $25,869, so the reduction is 20% of that, $5,174. Your rate is $7,105 a year, or $272.51 a fortnight.
The same family on a lower income
Drop that family’s income to $75,000 and nothing about the children changes, but the answer does:
Maximum $14,220 − reduction $1,174 = $13,047 a year ($500.42 a fortnight)
At $75,000 the supplement is still included, because the family is under the $80,000 income limit — each child adds $970.90 to the maximum before the income test takes its cut.
Where Part A runs out
Because the maximum rate grows with each child, the income at which Part A disappears grows too:
| Family | Maximum Part A a year | No Part A above |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child under 13 | $6,139 | $129,648 |
| 2 children under 13 | $12,279 | $136,218 |
| 3 children under 13 | $18,418 | $148,506 |
| 4 children under 13 | $24,557 | $168,971 |
| 5 children under 13 | $30,697 | $189,435 |
Read that table the right way round: it is not a cliff you fall off, it is the point where the 30 cent taper has taken the last dollar. Everything to the left of it is a partial payment.
Frequently asked questions
How much is FTB Part A for one child?
The maximum is $6,139.30 a year for a child under 13, or $235.48 a fortnight, rising to $7,989.85 a year once the child is 13. That is the maximum — the income test reduces it above $69,131.
How is the Part A income test applied?
Two tapers. Between $69,131 and $123,078 your maximum rate falls by 20 cents for every dollar. Above $123,078 it falls by 30 cents for every dollar, until the payment runs out.
Is there a base rate that always gets paid?
There is a base rate of $1,971.00 a year per child, and while your family income is at or below $123,078 the rate cannot fall below it. Above that line the second taper starts eating into the base rate too, and eventually takes it to nil — which is what sets each cut off in the table above.
Why do I lose the supplement all at once?
The Part A supplement of $970.90 per child is only included in your rate while your family income is $80,000 or less. It is a cliff: one dollar over and it goes for every child, which is why a small pay rise near that line can leave you worse off.
What if my income changes during the year?
Centrelink pays on an estimate and reconciles after you lodge your tax return. If the estimate was too low you will be asked to repay the difference; if it was too high you get a top up. You can revise your estimate at any time through myGov.
Do I need to meet other requirements?
Yes. A child generally has to meet the immunisation requirements, and older children have to stay in secondary school to keep the higher rate. Children in shared care are paid at the shared care percentage.
Next
- Family Tax Benefit calculator — Part A and Part B worked out together
- FTB Part B rates and income test
Rates, free areas and tapers from Department of Social Services — Family Assistance Guide, checked 12 October 2026.