Ang Kalatas Volume III September 2013 Issue | Page 14

14 | Community THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA. www.kalatas.com.au | Ang Kalatas Australia | Vol. 3 No. 12 | September 2013 TALKING HUMAN SERVICES Welcome to a regular column with Human Services General Manager, Hank Jongen. Here you can find out important information about the Federal Department of Human Services, which includes Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support. HANK JONGEN I’d like to take this opportunity to let you know about new requirements for some Centrelink family assistance payments. If you currently receive Family Tax Benefit (FTB) there are some changes that may affect you from 1 July 2013. To remain eligible for the FTB Part A supplement of up to $726, children in your care now need to be immunised during the financial year that each child turns one, two and five. If you receive income support you also need to ensure children in your care complete a health check in the year they turn four, and that this is reported to Centrelink once it has been done in order to receive the supplement. There have also been changes to the amount of time you have to lodge a lump sum claim or balance your family assistance payments. From 1 July you have one financial year instead of two to lodge a lump sum claim for FTB and/or Child Care Benefit. You will also need to lodge your tax return, or tell Centrelink that you don’t need to lodge one, within 12 months of the end of the financial year to receive FTB top-ups or supplementary payments. These rules apply from the 2012-13 financial year onwards, meaning you have until 30 June 2014 to make your lump sum claim. This doesn’t mean you’ve missed your chance to claim for the 2011-12 financial year. You still have until 30 June 2014 to claim for this period. I’d encourage you to get on the front foot with your tax time requirements to speed up payment of your financial assistance and ensure you meet the new deadlines for claiming I’d also like to remind you that our Families Express Plus app can be used to update your contact details, subscribe to and view online letters, view payments and transaction history, capture and upload documents and to notify Centrelink if you don’t need to lodge a tax return. It’s available for download for your smartphone or tablet from Google Play or iTunes. For more information go to humanservices.gov.au/families or call 136 150. Until next time, Hank Jongen Department of Human Services General Manager Modern Filipino Door-to-Door Service just landed Down Under….. Following the successful operations of our Mother Company as an International Freight Forwarder, Modern Filipino Door-to-Door Service just opened their business Down Under. Our service is the safest, fastest and most reliable way to deliver your goods to their destinations at a very reasonable and affordable price. We offer a price guarantee: If you happen to ind a cheaper price, we will be happy to beat it by 10%! This offer is available until 31st December 2013. MODERN FILIPINO EXPRESS The Balikbayan Box So what are you waiting for? Hurry, take advantage of this offer and you won’t be disappointed! Modern Filipino International Freight Forwarding Pty. Ltd. Unit 10/24-27 The Crescent, Merrylands, NSW 2160 Mob. Nos. 0447357107 • 0450538700