? Parents receiving government assistance towards the cost of raising
their kids have won a small reprieve before budget pain begins for some
from next year.
? Payment rates for the Family Tax Benefit will remain at current levels
until July 2016.
? But from 2015 the Abbott government wants families booted off part B
when their youngest turns six years old, saving $1.9 billion over five
years.
? Families with a youngest child aged six and over now will continue
receiving the payment until June 30, 2017.
? From mid-2015 there will be a new part B income test of $100,000, down
from $150,000. The measure will save $1.2 billion over four years.
? The part A income threshold will be set at $94,316.
? There will be a part A end-of-year $600 supplement and $300 for those
eligible for part B.
? From July 2015 the government is tightening the eligibility for the big
families supplement worth $313.90 for each child.
? Only families with four or more children will receive the supplement
saving the government $377.7 million over four years.
? There’s some good news for single mothers hit by welfare cuts under the
previous Labor government.
? Tens of thousands of single mothers were left $60 to $100 worse off a
week when they were pushed off parenting payments and onto the
Newstart Allowance.
? The Abbott government will deliver some relief with a new supplement
for low-income single parents worth $155 million over four years.
? From July 1, 2015 single parents receiving the maximum rate of Family
Tax Benefit part A will receive an extra $750 for each child aged
between six and 12, once their youngest turns six.
? Labor’s school kids bonus, worth $410 a year for primary school pupils
and $820 a year for high school students, is for the chopping block.
? The payment was linked to the minerals resource rent tax which the
Abbott government wants to abolish. (Source: 9News)