Double Orphan Pension Australia 2025-26: Rates, Eligibility & How to Apply
Published 3 July 2026 · 8 min read
Quick Answer
The Double Orphan Pension (DOP) is a fortnightly payment from Services Australia for children who have lost both parents, or one parent with the other absent. In FY 2025-26, the rate is $67.40 per fortnight per child, paid on top of Family Tax Benefit and other support. It is not taxable and does not affect your tax return.
What Is the Double Orphan Pension?
The Double Orphan Pension (DOP) is a supplementary payment administered by Services Australia (Centrelink) that provides ongoing financial help to carers looking after children who meet the definition of a double orphan. It was designed to recognise the extra costs involved in raising a child without parental support.
Unlike the Age Pension or the Disability Support Pension, the DOP is not a primary income replacement — it is an additional payment that stacks with Family Tax Benefit (FTB), the Child Care Subsidy, and most other government payments. You do not need to choose between DOP and other benefits.
The payment is tax-free and does not need to be declared in your annual tax return. This means your take-home pay from work and your DOP entitlement are calculated entirely separately — the DOP will not push you into a higher tax bracket.
Double Orphan Pension Rates FY 2025-26
The DOP rate is indexed each year on 1 July in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). For FY 2025-26, the payment remains at $67.40 per fortnight per eligible child. This is paid in addition to any FTB or other support you already receive for that child.
| Scenario | Payment Rate (per fortnight) | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| One eligible child | $67.40 | $1,752.40 |
| Two eligible children | $134.80 | $3,504.80 |
| Three eligible children | $202.20 | $5,257.20 |
To calculate your exact entitlement, use our take-home pay calculator alongside the DOP amount — the pension does not reduce your after-tax income because it is not treated as assessable income by the ATO.
Who Qualifies: Double Orphan Eligibility Criteria
Services Australia defines a "double orphan" in specific legal terms. The child must be under 16 years of age (or under 18 if in full-time secondary study) and meet one of the following conditions:
- Both parents are deceased
- One parent is deceased and the other parent is in prison for at least 10 years
- One parent is deceased and the other parent is in a psychiatric hospital or nursing home on a long-term basis
- One parent is deceased and the other parent cannot be found (after reasonable efforts)
- One parent is deceased and a court order has removed the surviving parent's custody permanently
The carer does not need to be a biological parent — grandparents, other relatives, foster carers, and legal guardians can all claim the DOP as long as they have day-to-day care of the child. The child must also be an Australian resident.
If the surviving parent later becomes able to care for the child again (e.g., released from prison), the DOP will stop. It is designed as ongoing support for situations where both parents are permanently unavailable.
How Does DOP Interact With Other Payments?
One of the most important features of the Double Orphan Pension is that it is non-taxable and does not count as income for most other Centrelink means tests. This means you can receive the DOP while claiming other benefits without reducing your total support.
Here is how DOP interacts with common payments:
| Payment | Impact of DOP |
|---|---|
| Family Tax Benefit Part A | No impact — DOP is paid in addition to FTB-A |
| Family Tax Benefit Part B | No impact — can receive both |
| Child Care Subsidy | No impact — DOP not counted as income |
| Parenting Payment | No impact — DOP is exempt from income test |
| Carer Payment | No impact — can be received together |
| Rent Assistance | No impact — DOP is not assessable income |
Because DOP is not taxable income, it also does not show up in your tax return. When you use our income tax calculator, only your employment and business income will be assessed — the DOP sits entirely outside the tax system.
How to Apply for the Double Orphan Pension
Applying for DOP requires submitting a claim through your Centrelink online account via myGov. You will need to provide supporting documents that prove the child's double orphan status, such as:
- Death certificates for both parents (or the deceased parent)
- Court orders or prison documentation for the surviving parent
- Police reports or statutory declarations if the other parent cannot be located
- Medical certificates if the surviving parent is in long-term care
- Proof of your care arrangements (e.g., foster care letter, kinship care order)
You will also need to provide standard identification documents and proof of the child's Australian residency. Services Australia may request additional evidence depending on your specific circumstances.
Once approved, payments are made fortnightly into your nominated bank account, typically on the same schedule as your FTB or other Centrelink payments. Apply as soon as you have care of the child — backdating may be available in limited cases.
DOP and Your Tax Return: What You Need to Know
The Double Orphan Pension is classified as a non-taxable Centrelink payment. You do not need to declare it as income in your annual tax return, and it will not appear on your payment summary or Centrelink income statement.
This is different from many other Centrelink payments like the Parenting Payment or JobSeeker Payment, which are taxable and must be declared. The DOP's tax-free status means it is pure financial support — no withholding tax applies, and it will never create a tax bill.
However, if you are working while receiving DOP, your employment income is still taxed at the normal rates. Use our take-home pay calculator to see how your salary is affected by income tax and the Medicare levy. You can also check Medicare Levy obligations if your income exceeds the threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Double Orphan Pension taxable?
No. The DOP is a non-taxable payment from Services Australia. You do not declare it in your tax return and no tax is withheld from the fortnightly payments.
Can I receive DOP if I am not the biological parent?
Yes. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster carers, legal guardians, and kinship carers can all claim DOP as long as they have day-to-day care of the eligible child. You simply need to prove your care arrangement.
Does DOP affect Family Tax Benefit?
No. The Double Orphan Pension is paid in addition to FTB Part A and Part B. It is exempt from the FTB income test and will not reduce your family assistance payments.
What age does the child need to be?
The child must be under 16 years old, or under 18 if they are in full-time secondary study. Once the child finishes school or turns 18 (whichever comes first), the DOP stops.
How is the DOP paid?
The DOP is paid fortnightly into your nominated bank account, usually on the same day as your FTB or other Centrelink payments. The rate is $67.40 per child per fortnight in FY 2025-26.
For more Australian financial calculators and tools, see our superannuation calculator and salary sacrifice calculator to make the most of your income.