While the changes to power tariff, public transport, passport fees etc are set to push the household costs higher this year, the Centrelink changes hold nothing better for Australians.
The changes, some of which have already kicked in, are set to affect your finances even more.
According to, Families with a household income of up to $100,000 will no longer receive the twice-a-year payment of $430 for primary school students and $856 for high school students.
The government is also scrapping the Single Income Family Supplement of $300 to new applicants. Those currently receiving it will continue to do so.
For parents of children born after October 1, 2016, the Parental Leave Pay and dad and partner pay will now count as income for Centrelink purposes. Which, in effect, means your other income support payments such as family tax benefit, will be affected.
If you receive any fringe benefits from your employer, those will also count as your income and may affect your eligibility for government payments.
Changes to the Family Tax Benefit part A would see families with combined household income of over $80,000 lose the FBT Part A supplement, a lump sum payment of up to $726 per child, paid at the end of financial year.
The bad news for families doesn’t end just there.
According to a Department of Education report, child care costs are set to rise by 5 per cent every year for the next four years.
But, the government is planning to scrap the current rebate cap of $7,500 for families with a combined income of 185,710. For those earning above this, will be able to claim up to $10,000 in rebate.
However, the government says this change must be paid for by more cuts to family benefits for low-income families.
