Family Tax Benefit rates and income limits rose from 1 July 2026 under the standard annual indexation cycle for family payments. Part A climbed to $235.48 a fortnight per child under 13, and the Part B primary earner income limit lifted to $124,327.
Key facts
| What changed | Detail |
|---|---|
| FTB Part A — per child under 13 | $235.48/fortnight |
| FTB Part A — per child 13–15 | $306.46/fortnight |
| FTB Part B — youngest under 5 | $200.34/fortnight |
| FTB Part B — youngest 5 and over | $139.86/fortnight |
| FTB Part B primary earner limit | $124,327 |
Family Tax Benefit rates from 1 July
Family Tax Benefit Part A's maximum rate rose to $235.48 a fortnight for each child under 13 and $306.46 for each child aged 13 to 15, up a few dollars on last year's rates. Family Tax Benefit Part B, paid to single parents and single-income couple families, rose to $200.34 a fortnight where the youngest child is under 5, and $139.86 where the youngest is 5 or older. Both parts index every 1 July, in line with the financial year, so families see the new rate in their first payment of the new financial year rather than partway through it.
The exact amount a family receives depends on the number and ages of children, whether they're on the maximum rate or a part rate under the income test, and any supplementary payments like the FTB Part A supplement, paid after the end of the financial year once your tax return confirms your actual family income.
Income limits moved too
Alongside the rate rises, the Family Tax Benefit Part B primary earner income limit lifted to $124,327 for 2026-27 — families where the primary earner earns more than that aren't eligible for Part B at all. Family Tax Benefit Part A's income-free areas and taper thresholds were indexed on the same date, which can lift the payment for some families already receiving a part rate, and may bring some higher-income families back into eligibility for at least a small payment.
Why family payments index in July, not March
Family Tax Benefit and related family assistance payments run on the financial year, so they're indexed each 1 July. That's a different cycle to pension-type payments like the Age Pension, JobSeeker and Carer Payment, which index every 20 March and 20 September, and to student payments like Youth Allowance and Austudy, which index each 1 January. Running three separate indexation cycles across the year means Centrelink payment rates are essentially always being reviewed for some category of recipient, even though any single payment only moves once or twice a year.
Do you need to do anything
Existing Family Tax Benefit recipients get the higher rate automatically from their first payment after 1 July 2026 — there's no need to reapply. If your family income has dropped below the new, higher Part B limit and you weren't previously eligible, or you have a new baby or changed care arrangements, you'll need to lodge or update a claim through myGov to start receiving the payment. It's also worth confirming your family income estimate for the new financial year is accurate, since an outdated estimate can lead to an overpayment that Centrelink claws back at tax time.
What this means for your pay
Family Tax Benefit sits alongside your take-home pay rather than through it, but a change in household income can shift how much you're entitled to. If you're weighing up extra shifts, a pay rise, or returning to work after parental leave, use our take-home pay calculator to see your new after-tax income, and the Parental Leave Pay guide if you're also weighing government-funded leave against family payments.