Department of Human Services spokesperson Scott Anderson said families need to tell Centrelink if their child is starting or completing primary or secondary study by December 31 to make sure they receive the right payment amount in January 2015.

Log in to my.gov.au and use your Centrelink online account to check and update your child’s details. All you need is your Customer Reference Number and an internet connection. If your child’s study details are correct you do not need to do anything.

Eligible families who receive fortnightly payments and have up-to-date study details recorded for their children will be paid the Schoolkids Bonus automatically between January 5 and 19.

Payments won’t show in your online account until the day it is paid so there’s no need to contact Centrelink until after January 20 if you have any questions.

Mr. Anderson said families should also be aware that a new income test will be applied to Schoolkids Bonus from January 1, 2015.

“From next year, only recipients with an adjusted taxable income of $100,000 or less will remain eligible for Schoolkids Bonus. If your income is over this threshold you are not eligible to receive the January 2015 instalment,” he said.

Schoolkids Bonus recipients do not need to contact Centrelink to report their income because this information is already recorded for Family Tax Benefit purposes.

Mr. Anderson said some students aged up to 19 years old in 2015, and who receive a Centrelink payment, may also be eligible for Schoolkids Bonus in their own right and should also update their study details by December 31.

“A Schoolkids Bonus School Leaver Payment may also be paid to students, or their families, if they are finishing Year 12 or equivalent so it’s important Centrelink has this information,” Mr Anderson said.

For more information visit humanservices.gov.au/schoolkidsbonus.