A child enters or leaves your care

If you’ve recently started caring for a child, you need to tell us:

• the date the child entered your care
• the child’s relationship to you
• the circumstances – this can affect what payments you’ll get from us.

We’ll work out if the change affects the benefits you’re getting from us.

You may need to apply for child support. We'll talk to you about this when you come in to see us.

How to tell us

You can tell us if a child has entered your care using MyMSD. You’ll need to book an appointment and it will tell you what you’ll need to bring.

Or you can call us right away.

If a child has left your care, you need to tell us:

• the date the child left your care

• the circumstances – this can affect when payment may reduce or stop.

How to tell us

You can tell us if a child has left your care using MyMSD. You’ll need to book an appointment and it will tell you what you’ll need to bring.

Or you can call us right away.

Child under 1

If you're on a benefit that requires you to look or prepare for work and you have a child come into your care, you will be expected to prepare for work until the child turns 1 year old.

When the child turns 1 you may have a change in your obligations, depending on the age of your next youngest child.

If your next youngest child is:

• under 3 years old, you'll need to continue to take practical steps to prepare for work
• between 3 and 13, you'll be expected to actively seek part-time work of at least 20 hours a week and accept any suitable job

• 14 or older, you'll be expected to actively seek full-time work of at least 30 hours a week and accept any suitable job.

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Child over 1

If you're on a benefit that requires you to look or prepare for work and you have a child come into your care who’s over 1 year old, your obligations won’t change.

We can help you access training and a range of other support to help you get ready to move into work.

You may be able to get assistance with the cost of childcare while you're working, attending training or doing some other activity that will help you move into work.

The Childcare Subsidy is for preschool children and the Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy is for before and after school care and holiday programmes for children aged five - 13 years.

For more information, read:

If you're having a baby, you need to let us know as it could affect your payments and whether you need to look for work.

If you don't tell us about children coming into or leaving your care, we may not pay you enough. Or we may pay you too much and you’ll have to pay the debt back.