The Schoolkids Bonus: A new payment to help families with the costs of education

The Australian Government is introducing a new, upfront cash payment to help families with the costs of sending their kids to school. Payments begin June 20, 2012.

The Schoolkids Bonus will help 1.3 million families pay for expenses such as uniforms, books, school excursions, stationery and other costs like music lessons and sports registration fees.

The Schoolkids Bonus will provide financial support upfront – helping families to balance their household budgets and ensuring they have the money when they need it most.

From 2013, eligible families will be paid the bonus at the start of Term 1 and 3, in January and July each year.

Each year, these families will receive:

• $410 for each child in primary school (two instalments of $205) and
• $820 for each child in high school (two instalments of $410).

The Schoolkids Bonus replaces the Education Tax Refund which means families don’t have to keep receipts and wait months to claim money back at tax time.

The Schoolkids Bonus will be available to families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A plus young people in school receiving Youth Allowance and some other income support and veterans’ payments.

As part of the transition to the new Schoolkids Bonus, the Education Tax Refund for 2011–12 will be paid as a lump sum bonus in June 2012. All eligible families will get the full amount of the Education Tax Refund, and won’t have to keep receipts and claim it through their tax return.

From 20 to 29 June 2012, families receiving fortnightly Family Tax Benefit Part A payments will automatically receive the bonus straight into their bank account:

• $409 for each child in primary school; and
• $818 for each child in secondary study.

If you claim your Family Tax Benefit as a lump sum at the end of the financial year, you will receive the lumpsum payment automatically then.

If you don’t receive the lump sum payment in June but think you could be eligible, call Centrelink on 132 468 after 1 July 2012.

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