How to Claim Double Orphan Pension for a Child in Your Care in Australia

Who can get Double Orphan Pension?

Double Orphan Pension is a regular Services Australia payment for an eligible person caring for a child whose parents have died or cannot care for the child in specified circumstances.

You must care for the child at least 35% of the time. The child can be 15 or younger. A child aged 16 to 19 can also qualify if they meet the relevant study requirements.

You must meet the residence rules and cannot be receiving another Centrelink payment for the child or an Orphan Pension from the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Which parental circumstances qualify?

The payment is not limited to cases where both parents have died. Services Australia recognises three main situations.

• Both parents or adoptive parents have died.
• One parent has died and the other is in prison for at least 10 years, is in custody and could be sentenced to 10 years in prison, is in a psychiatric institution or nursing home for an indefinite period, or their whereabouts are unknown.
• The child is a refugee who has not lived in Australia with either or both parents, and the parents are outside Australia or their whereabouts are unknown.

These conditions are specific. Caring for a child whose parents are temporarily unable to provide care does not by itself establish eligibility for Double Orphan Pension.

Do you need to claim Family Tax Benefit first?

Yes. Services Australia requires you to have claimed Family Tax Benefit for the child before claiming Double Orphan Pension. If you have not done so, you must submit the FTB claim first.

This requirement can still be satisfied if you claimed FTB but cannot receive it, including because your family's income is too high or because the child receives an education payment such as ABSTUDY. If you have not yet dealt with FTB, see the guide to claiming Family Tax Benefit for a dependent child.

What residence rules apply?

On the day you claim, both you and the child generally need to be living in Australia. You must also have Australian citizenship, a permanent visa, a Special Category visa, or a qualifying temporary visa such as an eligible partner provisional or temporary protection type visa.

The child must either live with you or have Australian citizenship, a permanent visa or a Special Category visa. Services Australia defines living with you for this purpose as normally living together at the same address.

Exceptions can apply under an international Social Security Agreement. Services Australia also identifies additional eligibility possibilities for certain people who have lived or worked in an agreement country and for eligible subclass 403 visa holders participating in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility family accompaniment initiative.

What documents may you need?

The exact evidence depends on why the child qualifies. Services Australia says you may need to provide:

• the child's birth certificate;
• confirmation of the child's refugee status, where relevant; and
• confirmation that the child's parent or parents have died.

The claim form asks for information about your circumstances and the child. Services Australia may request further evidence where necessary to assess the claim, so provide the documents requested for your particular situation rather than assuming every claimant needs the same evidence.

How do you claim Double Orphan Pension?

Services Australia provides the Claim for Double Orphan Pension form (SC003). You can print and complete this form, contact the Child bereavement and Double Orphan Pension helpdesk, or go to a Services Australia service centre.

You cannot complete Double Orphan Pension as an online claim. However, after completing the claim form, you can upload the form and requested supporting documents through a Centrelink online account linked to myGov or through the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.

You can alternatively post the completed form and documents to Services Australia, Families, Reply Paid 7802, Canberra BC ACT 2610, or lodge them in person at a service centre.

When should you submit the claim?

Services Australia advises submitting a Double Orphan Pension claim as soon as possible so you can be paid from the earliest possible date. If eligible, payment normally starts from the date you submit the claim.

Services Australia says backdating may be possible in some circumstances. For example, payment may be made from the child's date of birth if the claim is submitted within 13 weeks. Because backdating depends on the circumstances, do not delay a claim on the assumption that an earlier payment date will automatically apply.

How much is Double Orphan Pension?

As verified on 22 September 2026, the base rate is $81.60 per fortnight. Services Australia states that Double Orphan Pension is non-taxable and that its rate is reviewed on 1 January each year.

You may receive a higher amount depending on how much Family Tax Benefit was paid for the child before they became an orphan. Services Australia assesses this when processing the claim and makes any applicable adjustment.

There is no income or assets test for Double Orphan Pension.

What happens after you submit the claim?

If you upload the claim form and documents online, Services Australia gives you a receipt confirming the documents were submitted and providing a receipt number.

Services Australia does not publish a standard processing timeframe for Double Orphan Pension claims. It will assess the claim, contact you if more information is needed and notify you of the result by letter.

If you believe Services Australia made a mistake, you can ask it to review the decision.

Other support for a child in your care

Double Orphan Pension has its own eligibility rules and does not replace every form of family assistance. Depending on your circumstances, related procedures may include applying for Child Care Subsidy or, if you are the child's parent and meet its separate rules, claiming Parenting Payment.

If the child's parents are separated and the issue instead concerns financial support from a parent, the relevant process is different. See the guide to applying for a child support assessment.