Our new website—humanservices.gov.au
The csa.gov.au website has been retired. When you visit csa.gov.au you’ll be redirected to the department’s new website humanservices.gov.au
You’ll still be able to access all the Child Support information you need and Child Support Online Services (CSAonline) on our new website. Explore humanservices.gov.au/separatedparents and while you’re there, take a moment to update your bookmarks.
The new site means you can now access information about all Child Support, Medicare and Centrelink payments and services in one convenient place.
When you’re on humanservices.gov.au take the short survey and give us feedback about the new site – you’ll find a link to the survey at the bottom of every page.
Remember, you can still call 131 272* if you need more information about Child Support payments and services.
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Strengthening immunisation for children
Have you, or are you planning on applying for Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement or Maternity Immunisation Allowance from 1 July 2012?
If you answered yes to this question, you may be affected by some changes that occurred on 1 July 2012.
As of 1 July, Maternity Immunisation Allowance stopped and your eligibility for Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement is now linked to your child’s immunisation status. Immunisation is the safest and most effective way of giving protection against disease. The Australian Government has introduced these arrangements with the aim to increase the immunisation rates of Australian children over time.
What you need to do
In order to receive the Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement for a child turning one, two or five years of age, they need to be fully immunised or have an approved exemption.
Maternity Immunisation Allowance can still be paid if you were eligible before 1 July 2012. Your child will need to have met the immunisation requirements when aged between 18 months and 24 months or between four and five years of age before 1 July. If you haven’t already claimed Maternity Immunisation Allowance, you may claim up to your child’s fifth birthday or 30 June 2013, whichever comes first. Special rules apply for children adopted from overseas.
If you’re unsure about what immunisations your child has already been given, you can check their immunisation history statement through our Online Services. To get a copy of these details log on to humanservices.gov.au/onlineservices Just remember to have your Medicare card with you when you do this.
For more information about these changes visit humanservices.gov.au/immunisation
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Baby Bonus changes
Baby Bonus assists with the initial costs of having a child and is paid in 13 fortnightly instalments. From 1 September 2012, if you have a baby or adopt a child, the rate of Baby Bonus you may be eligible to receive will be $5 000. The first instalment will be $846.20, followed by 12 instalments of $346.15.
How do you know if you’re eligible for Baby Bonus?
You may be eligible for Baby Bonus if you:
• are the primary carer, or the partner of the primary carer, of a baby or adopted child
• are an Australian resident
• have an adjusted taxable family income of $75 000 or less for the six month period
following the birth of your baby or the date that the child enters your primary care, and
• have care of the child for at least 35 per cent of the time.
What if you have claimed before 1 September 2012?
If you’ve claimed Baby Bonus between 1 July and 31 August 2012, you’ll receive the current Baby Bonus rate of $5 437. The first instalment will be $879.77 and the following 12 instalments will be $379.77.
If you’re eligible for both Parental Leave Pay and Baby Bonus, you can use the Paid Parental Leave Comparison Estimator at humanservices.gov.au to help you decide which payment is best for your family.
For more information on the changes to Baby Bonus visit humanservices.gov.au/babybonus
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Tax time tips
If you receive or pay Child Support it’s important you lodge your 2011-12 tax return as soon as you can from 30 June 2012. Lodging your tax return is the best way to make sure your Child Support assessment is correct.
When you, or the other parent, lodge a tax return, we may calculate a new Child Support assessment and that means you may receive a new notice of assessment.
It’s important to lodge your tax return as soon as possible because your taxable income may be lower than the amount of income we’ve used to work out your assessment and we may not be able to back-date any changes.
What if I don’t need to lodge a tax return?
If the Australian Taxation Office doesn’t require you to lodge a tax return, you should still tell us your taxable income so that we can ensure your income is accurately reflected in your Child Support assessment. Tell us by calling 131 272* or by submitting a Request for Taxable Income Details form found on our website.
If you don’t know whether you need to lodge a tax return, you can ask the Australian Taxation Office by calling 132 861.
For information on how to lodge your tax return go to ato.gov.au
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Help for families affected by domestic or family violence
If you, or someone you know, need support with domestic or family violence, we can help by referring you to support services when you call us, or give you phone and internet details for the confidential telephone and counselling service to use at a later time.
When you call us on 131 272* to discuss Child Support or apply for Child Support, you might be asked some questions about you and your children’s safety. This is to ensure you’re connected to help and support if you’re worried about domestic or family violence. It’s voluntary to answer the questions we ask and they won’t affect your Child Support. If you have family or violence concerns, we can refer you to 1800RESPECT (the national sexual assault, family and domestic counselling service) or MensLine Australia (a service for men with domestic or family violence concerns).
Remember, family or domestic violence is not always physical violence—it can also be financial, emotional or psychological. If you need help now call:
• the 1800RESPECT line 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 737 732 or
visit 1800RESPECT.org.au
• Mensline Australia 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1300 789 978 or
visit mensline.org.au
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How many places can you go for a family trip without it costing you a cent?
Libraries are free, fun and there's something for everyone. There are items to borrow and fun things to do. If you have young kids, there’s something for them too.
They have story times and school holiday activities to entertain children and help them develop an early love of books and reading.
There are also quiet places for teens to study, plus homework clubs and library staff to advise them about where to go for information.
Libraries have books, DVDs, magazines and newspapers in many languages and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, your local librarian can often arrange to borrow a book from elsewhere. Many libraries are also introducing ebooks.
If you haven’t discovered what’s on in your library, this is your special invitation to come and find out www.love2read.org.au/libraries
* Call charges may apply.
† Please note: your call may be recorded.
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Private health insurance changes
Most Australians with private health insurance used to receive a 30 per cent rebate from the Australian Government to help cover the cost of their premiums.
Since 1 July 2012, the private health insurance rebate is income tested.
If you’re single and earning over $84 000, or in a couple/family (including single parents) earning over $168 000 in the 2012-13 financial year, you will be affected. People earning over these thresholds will fall into a threshold tier and this will affect your potential tax liability.
For more information about income thresholds, visit health.gov.au/privatehealth here you can find out what threshold tier you fall into and can then contact your private health insurer to get your rebate adjusted to avoid a potential tax liability.
In addition, the Medicare levy surcharge income test has changed.
Since 1 July 2012, if you don’t have private health insurance hospital cover and earn more than the above thresholds you may be affected.
For more information, visit health.gov.au/privatehealth
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Changes to Child Support information services
From August you’ll notice some changes to the Child Support Information Service. We’re making it easier and more convenient for you to do business with us.
We have introduced voice recognition so you can navigate through the phone menus simply by speaking. If you prefer, you will still be able to use the phone keypad to navigate.
If you receive Child Support payments collected by us, you can use the Information Service to receive information about your payments by calling 131 107. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
All you need to use the service is:
• your Child Support reference
number, and
• your personal identification
number (PIN).
If you don’t have a PIN or have lost it, just call us on 131 272* during business hours to arrange a new one.
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