Families Rejoice: Child Dental Benefits Schedule Back For 2017!

In the news

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) has applauded announcement by the Turnbull Government and its Health Minister, Greg Hunt, to reinstate the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) cap to $1052.

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The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is back for 2017! The CDBS is a government funded health program which provides a benefit cap of $1052 to cover basic dental services over a two year period for about 3 million Australian children between the ages of 2 and 17.
Don’t let your eligible children miss out on the CDBS’s benefit for basic dental services. Oral health is always important, and developing good dental and oral health habits in your children is one way to ensure a healthy life in the future.

To discuss or book dental treatment for your child, or if you have any questions regarding the CDBS, contact our friendly staff at Prevent Dental and we will be happy to book an appointment or answer your questions!

Key Features of the Program

The program’s key features are:

CDBS is a child dental benefits schedule for children aged two to 17 years.
CDBS focuses on benefits for basic dental services including prevention and treatment (e.g. fillings and extractions) with high end and orthodontic items excluded.
Benefit entitlement is capped at $1052 per eligible child over a two year period.
Benefits can be used in the public or private system.
Benefits are available from the beginning of each two year period.
If funds are depleted in the first year access to another $1,013 benefits will not occur until the new cycle.

Who is Eligible?

Children aged between two and seventeen years old can be assessed for eligibility. To be eligible, a child must qualify for Medicare, and they must be a part of a family who receives an applicable government payment, as listed below.

Eligibility is assessed at the beginning of each calendar year and is valid for the entire year. If you become eligible part way through a calendar year, you only get benefits under the CDBS from the date of Medicare eligibility.

Your children are eligible if the child’s parent, carer, or guardian receives:

Family Tax Benefit Part A
Parenting Payment, or
Double Orphan Pension
ABSTUDY

A child is eligible if they receive:

Family Tax Benefit Part A
Carer Payment
Disability Support Pension
Parenting Payment
Special Benefit
Youth Allowance
Financial assistance under the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES) and can’t be included as a dependent child for the purposes of Family Tax Benefit because they are 16 years or older, or
Financial assistance under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (MRCAETS) and can’t be included as a dependent child for the purposes of Family Tax Benefit because they are 16 years or older.

You’ll get a letter to confirm the eligibility of your child for the CDBS if you are a parent or guardian of the child or on the list of approved care organisations. Older children who are receiving payments under their own name may also receive a letter.

If you have children entitled to CDBS benefits, make sure that your details are up to date with Medicare and Centrelink.

Medicare can be contacted by calling 132 01.

Centrelink can be contacted on 136 150.