Families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A or Child Care payments are being reminded to ensure their children receive their scheduled immunisations before the end of the financial year.
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Minister for Human Services Senator the Hon Marise Payne encouraged parents to act now.
“Immunisation is vitally important to prevent the spread of infections and disease,” Minister Payne said.
“In order to receive the Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement for the 2013-14 financial year immunisation requirements must be met, or an approved exemption must be recorded in the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, before 30 June 2015.
“As part of the requirements of Family Tax Benefit Part A, children turning one, two or five need to meet the immunisation requirements relevant for their age in order for their parents to be paid the FTB Part A supplement.
”The supplement, of up to $726.35 for each child, is generally made available at the end of the financial year after parents lodge their tax returns and their payments are reconciled.
“For parents with children in child care, in order to receive Child Care Benefit (CCB) and Child Care Rebate (CCR), all children under seven must meet the immunisation requirements or have an approved exemption.”
Minister Payne said if a child is immunised by a doctor or immunisation provider, or an exemption is recorded, this information, once submitted by the provider, will be updated in the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register.
“Parents of children under 14 years can check the details held on the register by using their Medicare online account through myGov or by using the Express Plus Medicare app,” Minister Payne said.
“Parents may also provide the department with the approved immunisation forms that have been signed by a recognised immunisation provider. The quickest and easiest way for parents to provide this evidence is to use the Document Lodgement Service and their Centrelink online services account to upload the documents directly to their customer record.”
From 1 January 2016, ‘conscientious objection’ will be removed as an exemption category for Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate and the Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement.
More information about immunisation requirements for Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement and Child Care payments is available at humanservices.gov.au by searching for ‘Immunising your children’.
