Baby Bonus from 1 July 2004 to 28 February 2014

THE NEWBORN PAYMENTS (Refer link below)

From 1 March 2014:

Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB Part A) payments will be increased by $2,000.  The payment is to be made in the year following the birth or adoption of a first child or each child in multiple births, and $1,000 for second and subsequent children.  The additional FTB Part A will be paid as an initial payment of $500, with the remainder to be paid in seven fortnightly payments.

Parents who take up Paid Parental Leave (PPL) will not be eligible for the additional FTB Part A component.  However, the work test under the PPL scheme will be extended so that parents will be able to count periods of government PPL as “work”, just like employer-funded PPL.

As a result of these reforms, the Baby Bonus will be abolished. 
 

Note (1)

From 1 July 2013, the Baby Bonus payment for a second and subsequent child will reduce from $5,000 to $3,000.  The bonus of $5,000 will continue to apply for the first child. Expecting parents should consider both the Baby Bonus and Paid Parental Leave scheme to determine which is the most appropriate for their circumstances (including eligibility).

Parents and carers who became eligible from 1 July 2011 are paid 13 fortnightly payments totalling the annual allowance, but the first payment will be more than double the rest. 

From 1 October 2010, the baby bonus can be claimed up to three months before the birth of the child. 

From 1 January 2009, the baby bonus is paid in 13 fortnightly instalments rather than as a lump sum for all recipients - Refer to link below for more details.

From 1 January 2007 the baby bonus (previously called maternity payment) is no longer paid as a lump sum to mothers under the age of 18.