Your pathway

Care arrangements have changed

Check safety, legal arrangements and the distinct rules used by payments and child support.

Check orders and safety before changing arrangements
Seek legal advice if care is disputed, orders apply or contact is unsafe. This website cannot determine where a child should live.
Read the guide: Family law when a relationship ends
Report the actual care change promptly
If you have both FTB and a Child Support case, Services Australia says you can tell either service about the care change. That exception does not replace separate safe-record or personal-detail updates.
Read the guide: Report changes to payments and services
Check each payment's care test
FTB, CCS, child support and principal-carer status use different rules. A threshold for one program does not decide eligibility for another.
Read the guide: Family Tax Benefit
Check your own childcare claim and enrolment
Ask about your liability for fees, care share, claim and enrolment. Do not assume the other parent's claim covers your care.
Read the guide: Child-care costs and subsidies
Keep school and health contact safe
Ask providers about current orders, collection permissions and safe contact. Avoid unnecessary private disclosures through shared portals.
Read the guide: School costs and support for children

Wording reviewed 5 October 2026. Numerical rules have separate verification dates on Sources and updates.

Check orders and safety before changing arrangements