FTB and stimulus payments

[Karina]

Ok so I'm in the process of lodging my and DH tax returns using etax.
Last year I'm sure it had a section where you could apply for FTB through the etax thingy, but this year it says that feature has been removed.

So, how do i get my FTB? Do I just lodge my tax return as normal and they send my details to FAO, or do i need to do something through the FAO to get the payments?
I use the online services thing, and I over estimated our incomes because DH's income changes regularly and I wasnt sure what he'd earn. Because of the estimate i put in, we werent eligible for anything, but after getting our group certificates/payment summaries, we earnt much less than the estimate I told the FAO. I used the calculators on the FAO website yesterday and it says that we would be eligible for both FTB A and B. So will that get paid automatically or do i need to go something to get it?

Also, as we werent getting FTB fortnightly through the year, but are actually eligible for it based on our income, would I still get the stimulus payments that were for the families on FTB?

sorry coudlnt really find the answer to my questions anywhere else...

[AwesomeFoursome]

Yep you go through the FAO to get the payments now. I don't know if you get paid automatically or if you need to go something to get it. Hopefully BG will pop in, She will know the answers.

[ElleJay]

Yeah, this is something I'm pretty interested about - I have no idea myself, but I hope you find out what you need

[STARRYSKY]

I rang FAO last week, as this was my first year to do any of this!
I am claiming last finacial years as a lump sum, they dont do any of it over the phone anymore, you need to go to the FAO website and register to use the online services, then make a claim online, so I had to do that for last years (and I wont see any of it till DP does his tax, wish he would hurry up!!) then do another claim for this years so I can get fortnightly payments.
HTH.

[Bridg]

Karina- With my situation, I dont have to lodge a tax return, so I told the fao this. After DH does his tax, they automatically reconcile against the ato, and then if u have been underpaid, they top u up. If both u and DH have to do a tax return, then they will automatically reconcile ur ftb with the ato. The fao works in with the fao.

StarrySky- Im surprised u werent given the forms to claim ftb when u had ur bubba. U can also make an appointment to go in and see someone at the fao and they will help u with the claims.

HTH

[briggsy's girl]

karina - sounds like your payment was cancelled due to income based n your assesment - you can download the form you need (FA048) from the centrelink website. it will be a lump sum claim form. lodge it once your tax returns are done. everything will generate from that. if you were entitled to stimulus payments you'll be paid them with your FTB payment

for anyone that is current for FTB but at a nil rate (so you're on the system with an estimate but optin not to receive a payment) - when your information is uploaded from ATO to FAO it will generate your payment reconcilliation automatically

if you are current and don't need to lodge a tax return, you need to notify FAO or the system will continue waiting for the ATO to notify of your actual income. to do that, you can notify non-lodger details online (if registered - it's easy enough to do) or you can contact FAO on 136150 - be aware though that LOTS of people are notifying non-lodger details at this time of year and the wait to get through will be horrific!

for any single customers on parenting payment single or any other income support payment for more than 300 days in the financial year - the system knows what you earned (if you've earned a small enough amount each fortnight to still be eligible for income support, you'll be under the income thresholds for maximum payments) and your reconcilliation payments will be automatically generated from mid july to mid august

[Karina]

Yes my payment was cancelled because I over-estimated our income so I wouldnt get overpaid. But we were paid alot less than my estimate because I quit my job half way through the financial year and now we would be eligible. Can I use online services to apply for the FTB as lump sum? I dont want to have to go into the centrelink office to do it with a paper form (i'm too lazy for that!)

[briggsy's girl]

unless it's changed in past 6 months i think you have to do paper form - but you can post it in

[Karina]

Thanks briggsy's girl. I've just looked at that form you mentioned and it does say you can also claim the lump sum online in online services, so I think I'll do that