Household worked through · rates of 20 September 2026
A single parent with two children, renting
Mia is 31, cares for children aged 3 and 8 on her own and pays rent privately. Here is what Centrelink pays her, and what part-time work changes.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How we calculate
A single parent renting privately with children aged 3 and 8 and no other income receives about $2,015 a fortnight from Centrelink at the rates of 20 September 2026: Parenting Payment single at its full rate of $1,080.20, Family Tax Benefit Part A of $734 including Rent Assistance, and Part B of $200. Because Parenting Payment is an income support payment, Family Tax Benefit is paid at the maximum rate without the family income test, and Rent Assistance comes through Part A rather than through Parenting Payment, at the single-parent family rate. Supplements of $2,420 follow the tax return. With part-time earnings of $26,000 a year the household keeps more in total, because Parenting Payment falls by only 40 cents for each dollar above its free area and Family Tax Benefit stays at the maximum as long as some Parenting Payment is paid.
More details: ages, assets, child care fees
What this household gets, per fortnight
$2,015
$54,865 a year, including $2,420 of FTB supplements paid after tax time
- Parenting Payment (single) (you)$1,080
Full rate
- Family Tax Benefit Part A$734
No income test (income support), Rent Assistance of $263 a fortnight included
- Family Tax Benefit Part B$200
No income test (income support)
An income support payment is paid, so Family Tax Benefit is worked out without the family income test. How this is worked out.
Why Family Tax Benefit is at the maximum
Mia's Family Tax Benefit is not tested against her income at all. While she receives Parenting Payment, an income support payment, both parts of FTB are paid at their maximum rates (Family Assistance Guide 3.1.4.40). Part A is the lower maximum for each of her two children under 13, $471 a fortnight between them, plus Rent Assistance. Part B is at the higher rate because her youngest is under 5; it will drop to the lower rate on the youngest's fifth birthday.
Rent Assistance through Part A
At $640 a fortnight, her rent is well above the point where Rent Assistance reaches its maximum for a family with one or two children, so she receives the full $6,858.35 a year inside Part A, about $263 a fortnight. It is paid once: she does not also get the single Rent Assistance rate with Parenting Payment.
What three days of work change
Suppose Mia takes a part-time job paying $26,000 a year, about $1,000 a fortnight. Parenting Payment single has a free area of $257 a fortnight with two children, then falls by 40 cents in the dollar: it drops to about $783. Her Family Tax Benefit does not move, because she still receives some Parenting Payment. The household total becomes $1,717 a fortnight of payments plus her wages, against $2,015 without work. If the children go to child care while she works, Child Care Subsidy at 90% of the fee up to the hourly cap is added; set the days in the calculator above.
Two things would lower these totals. Child support received above the maintenance income free area of $2,080.50 a year, plus $693.50 for the second child, reduces Part A above the base rate. Savings or other assets above the free area of $600,000 for a single renter stop Parenting Payment altogether.
Each figure comes from the guides cited below and is computed by the same engine as the household calculator. For the payment itself, see Parenting Payment single.