The Federal Government has passed its Schoolkids Bonus through Senate, despite the Federal Opposition voting against the move.

 

The bonus will see the 1.3 million families with children in school receive financial bonuses from January next year.

 

Eligible families will receive:

  • $410 a year for each child in primary school
  • $820 for each child in secondary school.

 

The Schoolkids Bonus will be automatically paid to eligible families in two separate installments each year – before the start of Term 1 and Term 3.

 

This new payment will replace the Education Tax Refund from 1 January 2013. Under the current system, about one million families aren’t getting the full amount back at tax time.