Holiday and Birthday Allowance

You automatically get the Holiday and Birthday Allowance if you already get Unsupported Child's Benefit or Orphan's Benefit. Use these payments to celebrate important events in the child’s life, like their birthday or Christmas.

If you get Unsupported Child's Benefit or Orphan's Benefit for a child you’re caring for, use the Holiday and Birthday Allowance to help pay for the costs of making the child feel special.

Celebrating important events in a child’s life helps them feel valued, part of the family and more secure and happy. Being the centre of an enjoyable event helps the child’s emotional and mental health.

You get this payment two times each year. If you don’t celebrate birthdays or Christmas, use the money to do something fun that makes the child feel special.

Holiday and Birthday Allowance payments don’t:

  • affect other payments you may get from us
  • count as income for tax purposes.

You automatically get the Birthday and Holiday Allowance if you get Unsupported Child’s Benefit or Orphan’s Benefit.

How much money you get depends on the age of the child you're looking after.

Age of the child Weekly rate for Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child Benefit Birthday and Holiday Allowance rate
Under 5 years old $286.08 $143.04
5 to 9 years old $288.06 $144.03
10 to 13 years old $310.40 $155.20
14 years and over $332.61 $166.31

You don't have to let us know when the child's age changes. We update the payment automatically.

You don't need to apply for the Holiday and Birthday Allowance. You get this payment automatically when you get Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit.

We pay you the Holiday and Birthday Allowance with your Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit.

Each year, you get the:

  • Birthday Allowance around 2 weeks before the child’s birthday
  • Holiday Allowance around 2 weeks before 25 December.

When you stop getting Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit, the allowance also stops.

School and Year Start-up Payments

If you get the Unsupported Child's Benefit or Orphan's Benefit, you can apply for the School and Year Start-up Payment. This payment helps you with the costs that are mostly at the start of the year. These costs are usually things children need for school or pre-school, like pre-school and school-related costs such as clothing, school fees and stationery.

Extraordinary Care Fund

If you get the Unsupported Child's Benefit or Orphan's Benefit, you can apply for extra financial help in special cases. The Extraordinary Care Fund helps you with extra costs if the child you care for is either having difficulties that affect their development or showing special talent.

Related

Caring for someone else’s child
Orphan's Benefit
Unsupported Child's Benefit