Payments for guardian of child from NZ?

My bro & SIL have taken in SIL's 9 year old brother.
He's not a resident (I don't think she's gotten around to applying yet either), but she is entitled to ftb for her DD (no parenting payment).

She's had to get him over here (& has worked for 2 years to do so), away from the abusive life he was living (the nightmare she grew up in :()

He's been here since before christmas, but they've never thought to see if they were entitled to any type of centrelink payments. I'm sure they would be as guardians, but I don't know what exactly, or how they go about applying. They don't have an office locally, only an access centre.

Anyone know if they can claim FTB, or something similar?

I am a NZer and I got one of the benefits - the one that isn't/wasn't income tested. My DS wasn't a citizen of anywhere at the time (born in Aus but not automatically a citizen, had to apply for NZ citizenship by decent when I wanted a passport for him).

I guess it would depend on if she is legally his guardian or if it is an informal arrangement? If it is legal then she should be able to include him as a dependent and her payments adjusted accordingly (well, that would be logical to me but who knows with Centerlink!!)

Anyone know how she'd legally become a guardian? Given that their mother is still in NZ? (& they don't have much contact with her, coz she disappears)

it depends on what authority they now have custody. is there a dept in NZ that has granted them custody? What visa did the child enter australia under? Is DOCS or DHS or equivalent involved? (you don't actually need to post the answers but if you know the answers it might help you work out who you need to talk to next)

It was a private agreement. I'm not sure what his visa has on it TBH. I don't think they have legal custody. She said she wanted him to live with her & there was noone to argue coz family had taken him from his mother so he was looked after. She didn't argue from what I can gather.

I'd assume then that they'd have to apply for legal custody through NZ first, then deal with stuff over here.

she can ring c'link and have him added as an ftb child. she will be asked to provide proof of birth or arrival in australia. she may be asked to confirm care arrangements. it's not a difficult process really. get her to call FAO during the week.

she doesn't have to have legal custody through courts or anything to claim FTB. there are many many many informal arrangements in place.

Thankyou so much BG. Thats a relief.

BG is right - this is a very common situation and she should have no issues claiming FTB and CCB for him. He would have arrived on a category 444 visa most likely, which is issued electronically by immigration upon his arrival. A 444 visa will not entitle him to any other payments, for example, if he needs to apply for Youth Allowance when he turns 16. If its likely that he will need to do this, I recommend starting the process now to apply for permanent residency for him :) HTH