Shared care

Shared care only applies when the parents of a child are living apart, the child lives (for at least 40% of the time) with each parent and both parents apply for a benefit in respect of that child.

In shared care situations you can only pay a sole parent rate of benefit to the parent that has the greater responsibility.

For more information see:

• Decision Guidelines for shared care

Emergency Benefit cannot be paid to the 'other' parent on the basis that they care for the child for part of the time. Parents are expected to arrange care of their children to allow at least one parent to work.

Never pay two sole parent rates of benefit in respect of the same child (that is one child can't be included in two benefits at the same time).

When only one parent applies for a benefit in respect of a child in shared care situations, the child still has to be a dependent child before benefit eligibility in respect of that child can be determined.

For more information see:

• Dependent child

For information on the payment of family tax credit in shared care situations see:

• Family tax credit Shared care

For information on the payment of Childcare and OSCAR subsidy in shared care cases see:

• Childcare subsidy Shared care - principal caregiver
• OSCAR subsidy Shared care - principal caregiver

For more information on the payment of Child Disability Allowance in shared care see:

• Child Disability Allowance Shared care - principal caregiver

For information on the payment of Winter Energy Payment in shared care see:

• Single and caring for a child