If you rent privately and receive Family Tax Benefit Part A above the base rate, you're entitled to Rent Assistance on top — automatically. From 20 March 2026, the maximum is $257.88 per fortnight for families with 1–2 children or $291.48 per fortnight for 3 or more children (couples and singles get the same max). The amount tapers up at 75¢ for every $1 your fortnightly rent exceeds the minimum threshold ($203.28 single / $300.58 couple), so most renting families on FTB-A get something.
This guide walks through who qualifies, the exact thresholds for 2026, and the gotchas — including the single biggest trap, which is that dropping to the FTB-A base rate kills your Rent Assistance too.
Who can claim Rent Assistance
You qualify for Rent Assistance if all of the following are true:
- You rent privately (paying rent to a private landlord, agent, retirement village, or boarding/lodging). Public housing rent doesn't qualify; neither does owning or paying off a mortgage.
- You receive FTB Part A above the base rate (the "more than base rate" rule). If your FTB-A is reduced to the base rate by the income test, Rent Assistance switches off with it.
- Your fortnightly rent is above the minimum threshold for your family type ($203.28 single / $300.58 couple, as of 20 March 2026).
- You meet the standard residency and family situation rules for FTB-A.
Rent Assistance is paid as part of your FTB-A fortnightly amount — you don't claim it separately. It's automatic if you qualify and you've told Centrelink your rent details via myGov.
How much you'll get — exact figures for 2026
From 20 March 2026 (CPI-indexed every March and September):
| Family type | Min rent for any RA | Max RA per fortnight | Rent at which max kicks in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, 1–2 children | $203.28/fn | $257.88/fn | $547.12/fn |
| Single, 3+ children | $203.28/fn | $291.48/fn | $591.92/fn |
| Couple, 1–2 children | $300.58/fn | $257.88/fn | $644.42/fn |
| Couple, 3+ children | $300.58/fn | $291.48/fn | $689.22/fn |
How the taper works. RA is 75¢ for every $1 of fortnightly rent above the minimum, up to the cap. For example, a single parent with 2 kids and $400/fn rent:
- Rent above the minimum = $400 − $203.28 = $196.72/fn
- RA = 75¢ × $196.72 = $147.54/fortnight (about $295/month).
- They'd hit the $257.88 max if rent rose to $547.12/fn.
Run the NestWise Rent Assistance Calculator → Enter your rent, family situation, and income — it shows your exact entitlement and whether you're hitting the cap.
Rates index every March and September
The dollar figures above index twice a year on 20 March and 20 September, based on CPI. The 0.75 taper rate is set in legislation and doesn't change.
The figures here are correct from 20 March 2026 onwards. NestWise updates within weeks of each Services Australia announcement.
The single biggest trap — the FTB-A base rate kills RA
This is the gotcha that catches more renting families than any other:
Rent Assistance only flows while your FTB-A is above the base rate. As your income rises, the FTB-A income test first reduces your max-rate FTB-A down to the base rate ($72.94/fortnight per child). The moment that happens, RA stops too — even though nothing about your rent changed.
For a couple with two kids renting privately, the income at which FTB-A hits base rate is around $107,000–$130,000 depending on exact circumstances. Above that, both FTB-A reduces to base AND RA stops — a double hit that can be $7,000–$8,000/year of lost payments.
NestWise's FTB calculator shows you exactly where this cliff sits for your family, and our Rate Checker catches it if a pay rise pushes you over.
The other five gotchas
1. You must actually tell Centrelink your rent details. RA isn't paid automatically just because you're renting — you need a current rent certificate or proof of payment on file. Update via myGov anytime your rent changes.
2. Rent must be above the minimum threshold. If you pay less than $203.28/fn ($101.64/wk) as a single, or $300.58/fn ($150.29/wk) as a couple, you get $0 — even if you'd otherwise qualify. This catches some low-rent or shared-house arrangements.
3. Public housing doesn't count. Rent paid to a state housing department or community housing provider doesn't qualify, even if you're paying private-market amounts. RA is for the private rental market.
4. Each parent's share counts in shared-care. If your child is in your care less than 100% of the time, your FTB-A is reduced proportionally — and your RA is reduced with it.
5. Boarders and lodgers DO qualify (usually). If you live with a host family and pay regular board, that often counts as rent for RA purposes. Same with retirement villages and serviced apartments — but you need a documented payment arrangement.
What's NOT covered by RA
- Mortgage repayments — RA is for renters only. Homeowners get nothing here.
- Public/community housing rent — covered by the housing provider's own subsidies, not RA.
- Rent paid by other Government payments (e.g., if Centrelink is already paying your rent under a different program).
How NestWise calculates your Rent Assistance
NestWise's Rent Assistance calculator implements the formula step by step using the exact figures above:
- Check eligibility — private renter, FTB-A above base rate, partnered status, number of kids.
- Compute the minimum threshold based on your single/couple status.
- Apply the 75¢ taper —
(rent − minimum) × 0.75, capped at the family-size max. - Cross-check FTB-A — if your income reduces FTB-A to base rate, RA returns $0.
The full source list is on the sources page. NestWise refreshes RA figures within weeks of each March / September indexation.
What to read next
- Family Tax Benefit Part A — how much will I get? — RA rides on FTB-A; understanding the FTB-A income test is essential.
- How much Child Care Subsidy will I get in 2025-26? — CCS and FTB-A often work together for the same family.
- The FTB-CCS debt trap — an income estimate that's too low can claw back CCS AND FTB-A AND your Rent Assistance.