Centrelink is urging families across Australia to act fast as the Family Tax Benefit deadline approaches.
If you’re eligible for FTB and choose to receive it as a lump sum, you must submit your claim by June 30 or risk missing out entirely.
The final date to lodge your claim for the 2023–24 financial year is June 30, 2025. After this date, Centrelink won’t be able to process claims for that period, which could leave families out of pocket.
Who Needs to Take Action?
This deadline only applies if you:
- Didn’t receive FTB fortnightly payments throughout the 2023–24 financial year.
- Want to claim your entitlement as a lump sum after the financial year ends.
If you received fortnightly payments, your entitlements will be balanced automatically once you confirm your income. But if you’re lodging a lump sum claim, you must submit it manually by June 30.
What You Need to Do Before the Centrelink Family Tax Benefit Deadline
To lodge your claim successfully before the FTB deadline, you must:
- Submit a lump sum claim for Family Tax Benefit via your myGov account linked to Centrelink.
- Confirm your income for the 2023–24 financial year for both you and your partner (if you have one).
This helps Centrelink determine how much FTB you’re entitled to receive. Without it, they cannot calculate your lump sum.
Why the Deadline Matters?
Missing the Family Tax Benefit deadline means:
- You lose your eligibility for FTB for that financial year even if you qualified.
- You forfeit hundreds or even thousands of dollars in potential payments.
- You cannot backdate your claim once the deadline passes.
This is especially crucial for families relying on lump sum assistance to help with back-to-school expenses, rent, groceries, and other rising living costs.
How to Claim Before Time Runs Out
Here’s how to claim your FTB lump sum quickly and correctly:
- Log in to myGov and access your Centrelink account
- Navigate to Payments and Claims > Claims > Make a claim
- Select Family Tax Benefit and follow the instructions
- Upload any necessary documents
- Confirm your income (or lodge your tax return)
If you’ve already submitted your tax return, make sure your partner has too, as your claim can’t be assessed until both incomes are confirmed.
Quick Reminder to Make Your Centrelink Family Tax Benefit Claim
As the cost of living continues to rise across Australia, every little bit of financial help can make a big difference. That’s why it’s so important not to forget about your Family Tax Benefit lump sum.
If you’re eligible, make sure you check your details and submit your claim before June 30, 2025. It’s a simple step that could help ease some financial stress.
