I am a smart person yet I cannot work out how to claim the child care rebate

[Mum2Romone]

You can claim over the phone.... I just did it.

No forms, the lady just put in the verbal claim.....goodluck

[butterfly_warrior]

Playing messenger for BG again...

for CCR, you have to claim CCB - you have to meet the CCB eligibility (residence etc) for CCB to qualify for CCR. if you ONLY want to claim CCR, you can tick that on the application OR you can opt for any fee reduction to be paid at the end of the year, OR you can get CCB to reduce fees. If you are doing either of the first two options, you won't need to provide an income estimate - for the third, you will.
put in a claim for CCB, it automatically registers you for CCR. if your income estimate is too high for CCB OR you have decided not to claim til end of year, you will get a letter stating you are entitled to CCB at 0%. to qualify for CCR you must qualify for CCB AND meet the work/study/training test.

to claim:
if you are active on the system for FTB (claiming payment OR active but at a zero rate each fortnight) - you can do it over the phone or online
if you are NOT active on the system for FTB - you can do your claim online or paper claim

online is easier - if you answer a question where it requires more info, it tells you! paper claim is long, and you have to wade through it yourself

if you are claiming for a period more than 28 days in the past, you will need to do a lump sum claim at the end of the year as well as making yourself current on the system for NOW. the lump sum claim can again be done online or paper claim.

[Traveller]

I just made my claim over the phone. Very easy, and the woman was exceptionally helpful and patient (even though I asked about a million really stupid questions).

[FabFiona]

So I have to claim for something I know I'm not eligible for in order to claim something that I am. Honestly. I love my Government but sometimes....

I will do it online at some point in a galaxy far, far away. May the force be with me.

[briggsy's girl]

You still have to meet the other criteria for ccb to be eligible for ccr hence one application process. There is no point having everyone that qualifies for both having to do two claims. It would be like telling every new parent that they have to fill in essentially the exact same form twicewhen a baby arrives - once for babybonus once for ftb. Just because you are not going to claim one payment doesn't mean the claim process should be separated. The processing for centerlink and child care centers is exactly the same for both payments