To be honest the fortnightly payment disadvantages me over the lump sum. Last time that lump sum went to pay for my OB, paediatritian and all the other expenses that come with having an unplanned c/s and jaundiced baby in a private hospital. Of course you get some money back from health insurance and medicare but we were still thousands out of pocket.
However I would definitely prefer a Paid Maternity leave system to a Baby Bonus. To afford to have babies we have really had to save every penny and put it away so that we can afford to pay the mortgage while I'm not working. It can be really stressful and I'm sure there are many people who can't afford to save enough from their day to day expenses to even do this. It is particularly hard when the person staying home is the main income earner.
I hate that they're changing it to fortnightly payments I would have liked to use it to buy all the new stuff I will need for a new baby, or even a homebirth seeing as they won't pay for that. I agree with satya, feeling like they think I can't be trusted with the lump sum.
Me-thinks castor oil will be getting ingested sometime after x-mas so I can afford to pay my doula and get a pram for the 2 bubs asap. Lump sum is definitly prefered this time around. Maybe next time when I don't have big ticket things to pay for and maybe some savings I will appeciate a fortnightly payment. It is hard when you only bring in a single income big enough to pay the bills and get some groceries and not much is left over to put into savings.
Wow, I guess the fortnightly payments are only useful if your already at home like me, with all the baby things you need. (sitting on my ar$e and being broke finally has an advantage! )
It doesn't seem to help too much to all you other ladies. I'm glad I started this thread, its opened my eyes a lot ladies. Thank you!!!
i'm in two minds in regard to the lump sum vs fortnightly payments - i guess there needs to be a firm line in the sand - midnight new years eve, the baby bonus $5000 ceases to exist. that's it - Howards bonus ends there and then. on January 1, 2009, a new payment to help with the additional cost of having a child is being introduced. it will be paid for the first 13 fortnights (so six months) of your childs life. for some people, receiving the payment in a lump sum would be helpful - getting all the big ticket items at once is great. BUT, how many of those big ticket items are essential within a month after birthing your baby? and how many of them can't be purchased before bub's is born? most places that sell baby items will allow layby - even if you dont' find out (or accept) that you're pregnant even til 13 weeks, that's 27 weeks to buy the essentials - and most people know before 13 weeks that they're pregnant, so can start saving straight away
for me, the payments over six months will be more beneficial. we're going through hell to get a child, we're used to scrimping by on, essentially, less than one income for the times i've not been well enough to go to work, and using my income as well as some of DH's, to pay for IVF as we went. so supplementing our income over that six months means that DH can be home more with his child when it is born. we will layby what we need, and pay it off over a period of time. we'll prioritise what we NEED when bub's is born, and those things that can wait a while, we'll pick up later on with the payments we receive. everyone is going to have a different POV on what is most beneficial for them, but the government of the day have worked out what is most financially viable for the CHILDREN of most families. not everyone does the right thing, not everyone does the wrong thing - the government had to do what they believed to be the best thing on balance as these payments are ultimately for the costs associated with bringing up your children
My sister also went through expensive IVF, and although the lump sum was great, she has also said a payment each fortnight would of probably been more helpful long term.
Her DH could of stayed home more often, and she said she would of liked some money each fortnight to contribute, instead of having to get if off DH. Their BB went on catching up many bills that built up over the long IVF process, which my sister didn't work at the time, due to travelling for her IVF.
I assumed (wrongly, I guess!) that most families would like a small stream of money for 6 months, over a lump sum. I'm glad I got so many peoples opinions!!
I would love Maternity leave for all, and BG, your idea of how to make it work sounds great!!
But in the meantime, as a starter, the BB is something we didn't have many years ago, we got nothing. And although 3 months off work isnt ideal, a few years ago you didn't even get that, so to me, its a bonus.
When I had my first 3 kids it was just a family allowance, nothing more, no bonus.
Nai, actually the lump sum also was better for me with Kane, with medical trips and costs too!!
But this time round, as an already SAHM, it supplements a "wage" in this house. And I guess that it only works that way if your already at home anyway.
For those mums earning a good wage, the BB would be a massive drop in income. And thats a shame that hard working Aussies, who contribute so much, aren't looked after unless their particular boss has maternity leave.
I too was self employed, and recieved nothing while not at work. It was EXTREMELY hard.
ETA...SJ, for first time parents, with all the start up costs, is does seem so unfair hon. That a few people who abused the bonus have ruined it for others. I would be mad too!! I'm just lucky I guess, I dont have start up cost, just week to week costs.
Last edited by Pretty Butterfly; September 2nd, 2008 at 01:33 PM.
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I would have liked to use it to buy all the new stuff I will need for a new baby, or even a homebirth seeing as they won't pay for that. I agree with satya, feeling like they think I can't be trusted with the lump sum.
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I'm glad I started this thread, its opened my eyes a lot ladies. Thank you!!! 
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