Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Determination 2004

Administered by Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Legislation au F2007B00465 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Determination 2004

as amended

made under subsection 8A (1) of the

Health Insurance Act 1973

This compilation was prepared on 25 October 2011
taking into account amendments up to Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Amendment Determination 2009 (No. 1)

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra

Contents

 1 Name of Determination [see Note 1]

 2 Commencement [see Note 1]

 3 Definitions 

 4 Purpose 

 5 Instalments of family tax benefit deferred 

 5A Notional overpayment due to revised income estimate 

 5B Non-payment of family tax benefit payments due to nonlodgement of tax return             

 6 Single payment of family tax benefit following review 

 7 Family tax benefit not payable because of debt or liability 

 8 Family tax benefit paid to payment nominee 

 9 Regular care children 

 10 Regular care children — past periods 

Notes   

 

 

 

1 Name of Determination [see Note 1]

  This Determination is the Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Determination 2004.

2 Commencement [see Note 1]

 (1) This Determination (other than section 5) commences on the date of its notification in the Gazette.

 (2) Section 5 commences on 1 January 2005.

3 Definitions

  In this Determination:

Act means the Health Insurance Act 1973.

adjusted taxable income has the meaning given by subsection 3 (1) of the Family Assistance Act.

entitled to be paid family tax benefit by instalment has the meaning given by subsection 3 (1) of the Family Assistance Administration Act.

Family Assistance Act means the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999.

Family Assistance Administration Act means the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999.

family tax benefit has the meaning given by subsection 3 (1) of the Family Assistance Act.

FTB(A) family means an FTB(A) family for the purposes of paragraph (c) of the definition of FTB(A) family in subsection 8 (1A) of the Act.

income year has the meaning given by subsection 3 (1) of the Family Assistance Act.

instalment amount has the meaning given by subsection 3 (1) of the Family Assistance Administration Act.

maintenance income has the meaning given by subsection 3 (1) of the Family Assistance Act.

registered family has the meaning given by subsection 8 (1A) of the Act.

regular care child has the meaning given by subsection 3 (1) of the Family Assistance Act.

Secretary has the meaning given by subsection 3 (1) of the Family Assistance Administration Act.

year means a calendar year.

4 Purpose

  This Determination sets out the conditions that must be satisfied for a registered family to be an FTB(A) family for the purposes of paragraph (c) of the definition of FTB(A) family in subsection 8 (1A) of the Act.

5 Instalments of family tax benefit deferred

 (1) A registered family is an FTB(A) family in relation to a year (the safetynet year) if:

 (a) a member of the family makes a claim for payment of family tax benefit by instalment under paragraph 7 (1) (a) of the Family Assistance Administration Act; and

 (b) the Secretary determines, under section 16 of the Family Assistance Administration Act, that the member is entitled to be paid family tax benefit by instalment that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil; and

 (c) before the first time in the safetynet year that the member is to receive an instalment amount under section 23 of the Family Assistance Administration Act, the member notifies the Secretary that the member wishes to defer receiving all instalments, or the Part A rate of each instalment, of family tax benefit until after the end of the income year ending after the whole, or the Part A rate, of the first instalment amount would otherwise have been paid.

 (2) The time after which the registered family is an FTB(A) family is the first time in the safetynet year when, but for the deferral mentioned in paragraph (1) (c), the member would have received a payment of an instalment of family tax benefit under section 23 of the Family Assistance Administration Act that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil.

5A Notional overpayment due to revised income estimate

 (1) A registered family is an FTB(A) family in relation to a year (the safetynet year) if:

 (a) a member of the family makes a claim for payment of family tax benefit by instalment under paragraph 7 (1) (a) of the Family Assistance Administration Act; and

 (b) the Secretary determines, under section 16 of the Family Assistance Administration Act, that the member is entitled to be paid family tax benefit by instalment that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil; and

 (c) before the first time in the safety-net year that the member is to receive an instalment amount under section 23 of the Family Assistance Administration Act, the Secretary varies the determination mentioned in paragraph (b) under section 31E of the Family Assistance Administration Act, because there is a daily overpayment rate within the meaning of that section, so that the member’s daily rate of family tax benefit is reduced to nil.

 (2) The time after which the registered family is an FTB(A) family is the first time in the safety-net year when, but for the variation mentioned in paragraph (1) (c), the member would have received a payment of an instalment of family tax benefit under section 23 of the Family Assistance Administration Act that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil.

5B Non-payment of family tax benefit payments due to non‑lodgement of tax return

 (1) A registered family is an FTB(A) family in relation to a year (the safetynet year) if:

 (a) a member of the family makes a claim for payment of family tax benefit by instalment under paragraph 7 (1) (a) of the Family Assistance Administration Act; and

 (b) the Secretary determines, under section 16 of the Family Assistance Administration Act, that the member is entitled to be paid family tax benefit by instalment that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil; and

 (c) before the first time in the safety-net year that the member is to receive an instalment amount under section 23 of the Family Assistance Administration Act, the Secretary, under section 32AA or 32AD of the Family Assistance Administration Act, does not make a payment of family tax benefit to the member.

 (2) The time after which the registered family is an FTB(A) family is the first time in the safetynet year when, but for the non-payment mentioned in paragraph (1) (c), the member would have received a payment of an instalment of family tax benefit under section 23 of the Family Assistance Administration Act that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil.

6 Single payment of family tax benefit following review

 (1) A registered family is an FTB(A) family in relation to a year (the safetynet year) if:

 (a) a member of the family makes a claim for payment of family tax benefit by instalment under paragraph 7 (1) (a) of the Family Assistance Administration Act in respect of the last income year (the last income year) ending before the start of the safetynet year; and

 (b) the member does not receive, at any time in the year ending immediately before the start of the safetynet year, a payment of family tax benefit by instalment that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil and that is in respect of the last income year; and

 (c) the Secretary:

 (i) makes a review decision under Part 5 of the Family Assistance Administration Act in relation to the member’s entitlement to be paid family tax benefit that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil and that is in respect of the last income year; and

 (ii) decides that the member is entitled to be paid family tax benefit by a single payment that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil and that is in respect of the last income year.

 (2) However, subsection (1) does not apply if the member does not receive a payment of family tax benefit by instalment with a Part A rate greater than nil in respect of the last income year because of section 31E, 32AA or 32AD of the Family Assistance Administration Act.

 (3) The time after which the registered family is an FTB(A) family is the date when the member receives the single payment of family tax benefit mentioned in subparagraph (1) (c) (ii) that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil and that is in respect of the last income year ending before the start of the safety-net year.

7 Family tax benefit not payable because of debt or liability

 (1) A registered family is an FTB(A) family in relation to a year (the safetynet year) if:

 (a) a member of the family:

 (i) is entitled to be paid family tax benefit that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil by instalment in the safetynet year, under section 23 of the Family Assistance Administration Act; or

 (ii) is entitled to be paid family tax benefit that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil and that is in respect of the last income year ending before the start of the safetynet year, under section 24 of the Family Assistance Administration Act; and

 (b) for the purpose of recovering a debt owed by the member or another person, or reducing a liability the member has for an amount of primary tax, the Secretary:

 (i) acting under section 84, 84A, 92, 92A, 225, 226, 227 or 228 of the Family Assistance Administration Act, makes a deduction of, or sets off against the liability or debt, the whole of the first instalment of family tax benefit that the member is entitled to be paid in the safetynet year under section 23 of that Act that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil; or

 (ii) acting under section 84A, 92A, 225, 226, 227 or 228 of the Family Assistance Administration Act, makes a deduction of, or sets off against the liability or debt, the whole amount of family tax benefit that the member is entitled to be paid under section 24 of that Act.

 (2) The time after which the registered family is an FTB(A) family is:

 (a) for a registered family to which subparagraph (1) (a) (i) applies — the first time in the safetynet year when the member would have received a payment of an instalment of family tax benefit under section 23 of the Family Assistance Administration Act that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil, if the deduction or setoff mentioned in subparagraph (1) (b) (i) had not occurred; and

 (b) for a registered family to which subparagraph (1) (a) (ii) applies — the date when the member would have received the payment of family tax benefit mentioned in subparagraph (1) (b) (ii) that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil and that is in respect of the last income year ending before the start of the safetynet year, if the deduction or setoff mentioned in that subparagraph had not occurred.

8 Family tax benefit paid to payment nominee

 (1) A registered family is an FTB(A) family in relation to a year (the safetynet year) if:

 (a) a member of the family:

 (i) is entitled to be paid family tax benefit that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil by instalment in the safetynet year, under section 23 of the Family Assistance Administration Act; or

 (ii) is entitled to be paid family tax benefit that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil and that is in respect of the last income year ending before the start of the safetynet year, under section 24 of the Family Assistance Administration Act; and

 (b) a person has been appointed to be the payment nominee for the member under paragraph 219TB (a) of the Family Assistance Administration Act; and

 (c) either:

 (i) the whole of the first instalment of family tax benefit that the member is entitled to be paid in the safetynet year under section 23 of the Family Assistance Administration Act that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil is paid to the payment nominee on behalf of the member in accordance with a direction given by the Secretary under paragraph 219TB (b) of that Act; or

 (ii) the whole amount of family tax benefit that the member is entitled to be paid under section 24 of the Family Assistance Administration Act is paid to the payment nominee on behalf of the member in accordance with a direction given by the Secretary under paragraph 219TB (b) of that Act.

 (2) The time after which the registered family is an FTB(A) family is:

 (a) for a registered family to which subparagraph (1) (a) (i) applies — the first time in the safetynet year when the member would have received a payment of an instalment of family tax benefit under section 23 of the Family Assistance Administration Act that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil, if the payment to the payment nominee on behalf of the member mentioned in subparagraph (1) (c) (i) had not been made; and

 (b) for a registered family to which subparagraph (1) (a) (ii) applies — the date when the member would have received the payment of family tax benefit under section 24 of the Family Assistance Administration Act that has a Part A rate that is greater than nil and that is in respect of the last income year ending before the start of the safetynet year, if the payment to the payment nominee on behalf of the member mentioned in subparagraph (1) (c) (ii) had not been made.

9 Regular care children

 (1) A registered family is an FTB(A) family for a year (the safetynet year) if:

 (a) a member of the family (the individual):

 (i) makes a claim for payment of family tax benefit by instalment under paragraph 7 (1) (a) of the Family Assistance Administration Act; or

 (ii) requests that the individual’s notional rate of family tax benefit (within the meaning of paragraph (2) (c)) be worked out for a day in the safetynet year; and

 (b) the family and the individual satisfy the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) on the day the claim or request is made.

 (2) The conditions are:

 (a) another member of the family is a regular care child of the individual; and

 (b) the individual would be eligible for family tax benefit for the child under the Family Assistance Act but for the operation of section 25 of that Act (the child is in the care of the individual for less than 35% of a period as determined by the Secretary under subsection 22 (6A) of the Family Assistance Act); and

 (c) the family tax benefit for which the individual would have been eligible if section 25 of the Family Assistance Act had not applied to the individual (the notional rate of family tax benefit), worked out under Division 1 of Part 4 of the Family Assistance Act and subsection (3), has a Part A rate that is greater than nil.

 (3) For working out the notional rate of family tax benefit:

 (a) the individual is taken to have a shared care percentage (within the meaning of section 59 of the Family Assistance Act) for the regular care child of 24%; and

 (b) references to FTB child in that Act, for working out the notional rate of family tax benefit for the individual, are taken to include references to the regular care child; and

 (c) the following provisions are disregarded for the individual:

 (i) paragraph (ca) of step 1 of the method statement in clause 3 of Schedule 1 to the Family Assistance Act;

 (ii) paragraph (d) of step 1 of the method statement in clause 25 of Schedule 1 to the Family Assistance Act;

 (iii) subclause 38A (1) of Schedule 1 to the Family Assistance Act; and

 (d) if information about the amount of adjusted taxable income needed for working out the notional rate of family tax benefit for the individual is not available (for example, because the taxable income of the individual or another individual cannot be known until after the relevant income year) — subsection (4) applies to the individual; and

 (e) if information about the amount of maintenance income needed for working out the notional rate of family tax benefit for the individual is not available — the Centrelink CEO may estimate the amount needed.

Note   The provisions mentioned in subparagraphs (c) (i), (ii) and (iii) relate to the FTB Part A supplement.

 (4) For paragraph (3) (d):

 (a) the individual may give an estimate of adjusted taxable income needed for working out the individual’s notional rate of family tax benefit; and

 (b) the estimate may be used to work out the notional rate of family tax benefit if the Centrelink CEO considers the estimate to be reasonable.

 (5) Subsection (6) applies if the notional rate of family tax benefit for the individual has a Part A rate that is greater than nil on the day a claim or request mentioned in paragraph (1) (a) is made.

 (6) The registered family is an FTB(A) family from the time, in the safetynet year, the Centrelink CEO notifies the Medicare Australia CEO, in writing, of the results of the individual’s assessment.

10 Regular care children — past periods

 (1) A registered family is an FTB(A) family for a year (the safetynet year) if:

 (a) a member of the family (the individual):

 (i) makes a claim for payment of family tax benefit for a past period under paragraph 7 (1) (b) of the Family Assistance Administration Act, and the past period falls within the last income year ending before the start of the safetynet year; or

 (ii) requests that the individual’s notional rate of family tax benefit (within the meaning of paragraph (2) (c)) be worked out for a day in the last income year ending before the start of the safetynet year; and

 (b) the family and the individual satisfy the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) for at least one day in the last income year ending before the start of the safetynet year.

 (2) The conditions are:

 (a) another member of the family was a regular care child of the individual; and

 (b) the individual would have been eligible for family tax benefit for the child under the Family Assistance Act but for the operation of section 25 of that Act (the child is in the care of the individual for less than 35% of a period as determined by the Secretary under subsection 22 (6A) of the Family Assistance Act); and

 (c) the family tax benefit for which the individual would have been eligible if section 25 of the Family Assistance Act had not applied to the individual (the notional rate of family tax benefit), worked out under Division 1 of Part 4 of the Family Assistance Act and subsection (3), has a Part A rate that is greater than nil.

 (3) For working out the notional rate of family tax benefit:

 (a) the individual is taken to have a shared care percentage (within the meaning of section 59 of the Family Assistance Act) for the regular care child of 24%; and

 (b) references to FTB child in that Act, for working out the notional rate of family tax benefit for the individual, are taken to include references to the regular care child; and

 (c) the following provisions are disregarded for the individual, unless subsection (4) applies, or begins to apply, to the individual:

 (i) paragraph (ca) of step 1 of the method statement in clause 3 of Schedule 1 to the Family Assistance Act;

 (ii) paragraph (d) of step 1 of the method statement in clause 25 of Schedule 1 to the Family Assistance Act;

 (iii) subclause 38A (1) of Schedule 1 to the Family Assistance Act; and

 (d) if information about the amount of adjusted taxable income needed for working out the notional rate of family tax benefit for the individual is not available (for example, because the taxable income of the individual or another individual cannot be known until after the relevant income year) — subsection (6) applies to the individual; and

 (e) if information about the amount of maintenance income needed for working out the notional rate of family tax benefit for the individual is not available — the Centrelink CEO may estimate the amount needed.

Note   The provisions mentioned in subparagraphs (c) (i), (ii) and (iii) relate to the FTB Part A supplement.

 (4) The provisions mentioned in subparagraphs (3) (c) (i), (ii) and (iii) cease to be disregarded:

 (a) if the individual satisfies the FTB reconciliation conditions (within the meaning of section 32A of the Family Assistance Administration Act); and

 (b) at the relevant reconciliation time (within the meaning of section 32B of that Act).

 (5) Subdivision D of Division 1 of Part 3 of the Family Assistance Administration Act has effect, for working out the notional rate of family tax benefit for an individual affected by paragraph (3) (c) and subsection (4), as if the individual had been the subject of a section 17 determination mentioned in subsection 32A (1) of that Act.

 (6) For paragraph (3) (d):

 (a) the individual may give an estimate of adjusted taxable income needed for working out the individual’s notional rate of family tax benefit; and

 (b) the estimate may be used to work out the notional rate of family tax benefit if the Centrelink CEO considers the estimate to be reasonable.

 (7) Subsection (8) applies if:

 (a) an individual’s notional rate of family tax benefit for a day in the last income year ending before the start of the safetynet year has a Part A rate that is greater than nil; and

 (b) the Centrelink CEO notifies the Medicare Australia CEO, in writing, of the results of the individual’s assessment before the end of the safetynet year.

 (8) The time after which the registered family is an FTB(A) family is the later of the following times:

 (a) the start of the safetynet year;

 (b) when the Medicare Australia CEO is notified of the individual’s assessment under paragraph (7) (b).

Notes to the Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Determination 2004

Note 1

The Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Determination 2004 (in force under subsection 8A (1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.

Table of Instruments

Title

Date of notification
in Gazette or FRLI registration

Date of
commencement

Application, saving or
transitional provisions

Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Determination 2004

23 Dec 2004 (see Gazette 2004,
No. S556)

S. 5: 1 Jan 2005
Remainder: 23 Dec 2004

 

Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Amendment Determination 2008 (No. 1)

22 Oct 2008 (see F2008L03906)

1 July 2008

Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Amendment Determination 2009 (No. 1)

16 Dec 2009 (see F2009L04647)

1 Jan 2010

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted      am. = amended      rep. = repealed      rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

S. 3.................

am. 2008 No. 1

S. 5A................

ad. 2009 No. 1

S. 5B................

ad. 2009 No. 1

S. 6.................

am. 2009 No. 1

S. 9.................

ad. 2008 No. 1

S. 10.................

ad. 2008 No. 1

 

Overview

The Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Determination 2004 was enacted to address gaps in the provision of family tax benefits under the Health Insurance Act 1973, specifically concerning the conditions under which a family qualifies for an FTB(A) family status. This determination was introduced by the Australian Parliament and is made under subsection 8A(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973. The primary policy objective is to ensure that registered families meet specific criteria to qualify for family tax benefits, thereby providing clarity and consistency in the application of these benefits. The Determination was amended in 2008 and 2009 to refine and expand the conditions for qualification, reflecting evolving policy objectives and administrative practices.

Scope and Application

The Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Determination 2004, as amended, applies to registered families who are eligible for family tax benefit (FTB) under the Family Assistance Act 1997. This Determination sets out the conditions under which a registered family is considered an FTB(A) family, thus qualifying for specific provisions related to family tax benefits. The Act applies across Australia and is made under the Health Insurance Act 1973, ensuring consistency in the administration of family tax benefits. The primary exclusions pertain to situations where family tax benefit instalments are deferred, reduced, or not paid due to specific reasons such as revised income estimates, non-lodgement of tax returns, or deductions for debts and liabilities. The Act can be extended or modified through subordinate instruments, which are detailed in the accompanying tables of instruments and amendments. These amendments reflect changes made to the Determination, including new provisions and adjustments to existing sections, effective from specified dates.

Key Provisions

The Health Insurance (FTB(A) Family) Determination 2004 sets out the conditions under which a registered family qualifies as an FTB(A) family for the purposes of receiving family tax benefits. A registered family qualifies as an FTB(A) family if certain conditions are met, such as the member deferring instalments, a notional overpayment due to revised income estimates, non-payment of family tax benefit payments due to non-lodgement of tax returns, a single payment of family tax benefit following a review, family tax benefit not being payable due to debt or liability, family tax benefit being paid to a payment nominee, and for families with regular care children. Each of these scenarios is outlined in sections 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Determination. The Act imposes various obligations on the parties involved, such as the requirement for family members to make claims for family tax benefit instalments, for the Secretary to determine eligibility, and for Centrelink to notify Medicare Australia of the results of individual assessments. Families must also comply with specific conditions, such as ensuring that family tax benefits are not deferred without proper notification or that they provide necessary information for the calculation of benefits. Breaches of the provisions outlined in the Determination can lead to civil or criminal consequences. For example, failure to provide accurate information or making false claims can result in penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the text of the Determination itself, they are generally governed by the Family Assistance Administration Act 1999, which may include fines or other sanctions for non-compliance. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as any applicable laws and regulations at the time of the offence.

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