Family Tax Benefit Part B provides extra assistance to single-income families, single parents, and families where one parent works limited hours. It is paid per family (not per child) and is based on the age of your youngest child and the secondary earner's income.

Who qualifies for FTB Part B?

FTB Part B is available to single parents and couples where one parent earns below a certain threshold. For couples, the secondary earner must generally earn less than $100,900 per year (2025-26). The full rate applies when the secondary earner earns less than $6,059 per year.

How much is FTB Part B in 2025-26?

The FTB Part B maximum rate depends on the age of your youngest child. For children under 5, the maximum is approximately $3,465 per year ($133.27/fortnight). For children 5 to 18 (secondary school), the maximum is approximately $2,428 per year. An annual supplement of approximately $459.90 is also paid after reconciliation.

Does FTB Part B reduce if the stay-at-home parent earns any income?

FTB Part B starts to reduce once the secondary earner's income exceeds $6,059 per year. It reduces by 20 cents for each dollar above that threshold and stops completely at around $100,900 for a child under 5. If the primary earner's income exceeds $100,900, Part B also reduces.

FTB Part B: Stay-at-Home Parent Income Limits

4 min read Updated 2 March 2026

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FTB Part B is often described as the "stay-at-home parent payment"—but the rules around what the working partner can earn and how the stay-at-home parent's part-time work affects the payment are surprisingly nuanced.

Unlike FTB Part A, which is based on total family income, FTB Part B is specifically designed to provide extra assistance to single-income families or families where one parent has a significantly lower income to care for a child.

What is FTB Part B?

For single parents, FTB Part B is relatively straightforward: if your income is under $120,007, you generally receive the maximum rate.

For couples, however, the payment is determined by two separate tests:

The Primary Earner Test: The parent who earns the most must have an income under $120,007 (for 2025-26). If the primary earner makes more than this, the family receives $0 in Part B, regardless of what the other parent earns.
The Secondary Earner Test: The payment amount is then tapered based on the income of the "secondary earner" (the parent who stays home or works fewer hours).

The secondary earner income test

The secondary earner can earn up to $6,935 per year (roughly $133 per week) before their FTB Part B begins to reduce. Above this "free area," the payment reduces by 20 cents for every dollar earned.

This creates a "cutoff point" where the payment stops entirely:

Scenario	Secondary Earner Income	Part B Payment Status
Full Payment	$0 to $6,935	Maximum Rate
Partial Payment	$6,936 to $34,437*	Reducing by 20c per $1
No Payment	Over $34,438*	Cutoff reached

*Figures based on youngest child under 5. If the youngest child is aged 5-13, the cutoff is lower (~$26,828) because the maximum rate of Part B is lower.

What counts as secondary earner income?

Centrelink looks at your Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI). This includes:

Gross salary and wages
Net rental property income (losses are added back!)
Business income
Reportable fringe benefits

If a stay-at-home parent earns nothing, the maximum Part B applies. However, if that parent works even 1 or 2 days a week and earns $25,000–$30,000, the Part B payment will be significantly reduced or potentially wiped out entirely.

Rates table (2025-26)

The amount of FTB Part B you receive depends on the age of your youngest child.

Age of Youngest Child	Max Fortnightly Rate	Annual Max (Excl. Supplement)
Under 5 years	$193.34	$5,040.65
5 to 13 years	$134.96	$3,518.50

The FTB Part B Supplement: In addition to the fortnightly payments, an annual supplement of $459.90 (for 2025-26) is paid per family after the end of the financial year, provided your family income is within the limits.

Using the FTB calculator

Because the interaction between the primary earner cap ($120,007) and the secondary earner taper (20%) can be confusing, we recommend using a dedicated tool.

You can model your specific income levels using the FTB Calculator. Note that the calculator uses your estimated taxable income as a proxy for ATI to give you the most accurate estimate possible for your upcoming balancing period.

Key Takeaways

Part B is for single parents or couples with one main income earner.
The primary earner must earn less than $120,007.
The secondary earner's income "free area" is just $6,935 per year.
Payment reduces by 20c for every dollar the secondary earner makes above the free area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if both parents work part-time?

Part B still applies. Centrelink will simply identify who the "secondary earner" is (the one with the lower income) and apply the income test to them, provided the higher earner is under the $120,007 cap.

Does super contributions reduce the income test?

No. In fact, "reportable employer superannuation contributions" (voluntary salary sacrifice) are added back to your taxable income to calculate your ATI. You cannot salary sacrifice your way into a higher FTB Part B payment.

How is Part B affected by shared care?

If you have shared care of a child, the FTB Part B rate is pro-rated based on your percentage of care. You must have at least 35% care to receive any FTB.