Thanks guys, but how are you meant to know the income for the future? DH could either get a bonus, or get sacked!! How can one know? If he's just on base wage, we are under. ALso would we still get our fortnightly payment that we're on now (A or B, not sure)? Thanks for the help. Bummer it's not lump sum...
FTB won't change - it's just hte baby bonus that has changed
they give you the option, if you're close to the 75k in 6 months threshold, to NOT claim the baby bonus until after that six months has passed and you know what the actual income is. if you claim and then DH gets a bonus and you go over, you'll have to pay it back
Hi there Briggy`s girl, It might seem like a silly question ? ,but why did Centrelink change the Baby Bonus to fortnightly payments instead of the lump sum bonus? Just wondering why it happened,thats all,hun. thanks.
Last edited by mummy of many; January 24th, 2009 at 10:22 AM.
: mistake.
Oh, I've just found this thread as my post was moved, didn't realise it existed. So sorry for asking the same question again.
I am excited to find out though, that the $75000 is only for half the year. We will be WAY under even with bonus', so we will qualify.
Thank you everyone for clearing this up. Still would prefer lump sum as we owe two different people $4000 for bills/babystuff/kindy fees etc. Anyway, they'll just have to accept it in bits slowly! xo
My baby bonus payments started just last week and it works out to be about $385 a fortnight, plus any parenting payments you get. Better than nothing I say, which is what everyone got before the baby bonus started!
firstly - i want to make it VERY clear - CENTRELINK only ADMINISTER payments - they don't make ANY decisions on what payments are or how they will be delivered - they're just the public face
in the May 2008 budget, it was decided to change the payment to fortnightly installments for everyone - prior to that, anyone had the OPTION of fortnightly payments, and ALL under 18's were paid fortnightly. the reasons behind it are probably open to lots of speculation, but from what i can gather
- labour government no longer see it as a bonus payment - it is a support payment for those on lower incomes
- as a support payment, it is better paid as all other income support is paid, fortnightly
- it is now considered another "welfare" payment, hence the income limits and the fortnightly payments
From my personal research
- the reports put forward to the goverment were suggestive that the "plasma" bonus, as it was widely known wasn't being used for items for babies
- it wasn't getting paid immediately on baby being born (took up to a month to process) so the immediate costs for the baby were having to be paid by the parents anyway
- most people know for at least 6 months that they are pregnant so have ample time to plan and arrange essentials for baby
the reasons this will work better for the majority of people
- reports to the government are (finally) supporting the need for mum's to spend the first six months with baby for essential development. they support the WHO's recommendation for exclusive breast feeding for that first six months (it's not possible for some, granted, BUT it is the recommendation). As Australia is one of very few developed nations to NOT have a government funded maternity payment scheme, it was put forward that the bonus be paid to support woment having this time off work. by paying it fortnightly, it is similar to supplementing minimum wage (similar, not the same!) and this six month period of time without work is being supported
Ultimately, it was set down by the parliament of the day that access to the payment be restricted, that it is now a welfare payment that is to be paid equally to everyone in fortnightly installments. it's not ideal for some people, but it has been decided and we all have to live with it!
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