Change in age
A child's age may affect:
- the family tax credit payable
- the Best Start tax credit payable
- whether the child is still a dependent child
- eligibility for Sole Parent Support and
- the client's obligations
Child is not dependent
A child is considered a dependent child unless they are:
Note generally a child is still a dependent child when they start part-time employment.
- getting a Student Allowance or an Independent Circumstances Allowance
Note getting a Student Loan does not always mean a child is financially independent.
Child turns 14
When a client's youngest dependent child turns 14, the client is no longer eligible for Sole Parent Support.
Best Start child turns 3
A child for who Best Start tax credit is payable will stop being eligible once the child turns 3.
Under 18 and not attending school
A child does not have to be attending school to remain a dependent child up until the age of 18 years.
Child turns 18
When a child turns 18, they are generally no longer considered a dependent child and can no longer be included in their parent or caregiver's payments, unless they are continuing in education and are not financially independent.
For more information see:
Legislation
- Expiry of sole parent support, and replacement with jobseeker support, when youngest dependent child turns 14 years old section 33 Social Security Act 2018
- Effect of child turning 18 years old subpart 18 part 2, Social Security Act 2018
- dependent child (definition) schedule 2 Social Security Act 2018
