Family payments and waiting periods for new residents
How Centrelink family payments work for new arrivals and how the newly arrived resident's waiting period applies.
In short
Centrelink, part of Services Australia, pays family payments such as Family Tax Benefit to help with the cost of raising children. New residents often have to wait before they can get them.
What to do
Some Centrelink payments have waiting periods for new residents. Check your visa before you rely on any payment.
What you need to know
- Time spent overseas doesn't count toward the waiting period
- For visas granted from 1 Jan 2019, many payments (such as JobSeeker and Parenting Payment) have a 4-year wait
- Family Tax Benefit Part A has a 1-year wait for partner provisional visa holders. Visas granted before 2019 were exempt for Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy
- Not confirmed here: Child Care Subsidy rules for temporary visa holders
You manage Centrelink through myGov. Ask Services Australia if you're unsure.