When your child turns 21, you'll need to have them recognised as an adult child.
Having an adult child may change the benefits your family gets.
Apply to have your child recognised
Your child will no longer be categorised as resident family when they turn 21. You'll need to remove them as resident family.
You can apply to add your child as a A person who lives with you but who isn’t a resident family member. (ROP) until they turn 25, as long as:
- immediately before turning 21 they were your resident family
- since turning 21, they have either continued to live with you or an adult who's your resident family, or they're lived away at school and were categorised as Your partner and children who live with you. or Resident family who live apart from you due to approved service, compassionate, work or study reasons. .
If your child has special needs, your benefits won't change.
Housing
You can apply to keep a bedroom benefit for your adult child until they turn 25, as long as you've added them as a recognised other person.
If the request is approved, you need to inform Defence Housing Australia (DHA).
The bedroom benefit for your child will finish once they turn 25.
When you no longer have ARF or ROP
If your adult child is the only ARF or ROP living with you in a Service residence, you'll usually have to move out within one month of your child turning 25 or moving out, whichever comes first.
You can make a request to DHA to stay in the Service residence until your posting finishes.
Moving homes
You're not eligible for a removal benefit for your child once they turn 21.
ADF Family Health Program
Your child won’t be eligible for the ADF Family Health Program once they turn 21.