What's going on with my payments?!

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

As a single parent of a child under 5 who doesn't work, I should be recieving the maximum amount of payments, shouldn't I? But for some reason my parenting payment keeps changing. Some weeks it's 550 or so, but more often it's 530 and I don't understand why. Also, I'm not recieving the maximum amount of FTB part B? The woman at centrelink said something about the rent assistance being paid with the FTB B so is that why? Looking at the website, it appears that I should get the maximum amount plus rent assistance??

[Lulu]

Every quarter you are entitled to various payments - Telephone allowance is one of them and its breaking my brain but its probably about $30-$50 per q. You may even receive Utilities Allowance (OMGness I can't think!) as well which includes a net allowance - that might only be aged pension though - sorry .

Do you get both payments in the same fortnight, or alternate weeks? Your Rent Assist is paid with the FTB component. I have absolutely NO IDEA why you would not rec full FTB B, unless CS payments would reduce it somewhat.
That woman should have been able to explain why you don't get full FTB B - that doesn't make much sense...

Did you apply for RA, send in copy of your lease etc?

[briggsy's girl]

your regular payment should be around 550 a fortnight

if you're working at all, you'll get less depending on how much you've earned

if you're paying back an overpayment, you'll have that deducted

once a quarter you'll get a telephone allowance (around 22)

if you have any bills being paid from your payment, that will come out before you get paid

if you've had an advance payment, that will be deducted from your payment each fortnight

as a single parent, you don't get utilities allowance

with the FTB, if you're entitled to rent assistance, it will lbe paid with your FTB

if you've had an FTB advance, this will be deducted each fortnight

if you're entitled to maintenance (even if it's not being paid by the father) it can still impact and reduce your payments

if you have had a change to maintenance assessment, it will read that you've potentially been overpaid at the start of the year and is adjusting so that you don't end up with a debt

i would suggest you look at your letters that you've received to see about deductions or add on's - if it doesn't make sense, call c'link for further advice

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

Thanks, Lulu and BG. It's all a bit of a headache but I think i've figured it out. I recieved a payment advance a couple of months ago that I forgot about so I think what's happened is that they're not taking a regular amount out each fortnight, which would explain why my parenting payment is always different. The chick on the phone today said that I am actually recieving the full amount of FTB with my rent assistance on top of it, which is . . . 3 dollars LMAO! I was receiving more rent assistance before so that's probably why my payment decreased; I thought they would be seperate payments but aparently my rent assistance gets paid with my FTB (and for some reason I get more that way??) I don't get child support unfortunately grr