Centrelink/Child Support - Heaps of Questions

[CKJ]

So background:

1. I currently receive parenting payment single, FTBA, FTBB, Rent Assistance and Carers Allowance for DD (plus CCR as she is in before/after school care)
2. I am a temp so report my income fortnightly (but have only ever done a full 40 hour week twice since starting in August, so still receive part payments)
3. I receive CS from DD's father through a private agreement situation where he pays me direct (well WHEN he pays me) He signed the birth certificate, never denied parentage but is an historic infrequent payer

Going forward

1. IF i choose to take the governments option of paid maternity leave, will this affect my parenting payment (ie do I have to report this as income each fortnight)
2. IF i choose baby bonus, this doesnt affect the payments I am receiving already does it?
3. IF the current baby's father refuses to sign birth cert, and I claim child support, DO i have to prove parentage or does he? (Obviously through DNA test? Court ordered?)

I rang Centrelink to ask and was basically fobbed off and told to figure it out for myself. I did the online estimator which said I would get roughly $1500 more in paid leave rather than baby bonus, but I dont think this takes into account parenting payment and if I have to declare it as income. I also rang child support and was told they couldnt help me until the baby is born and I would have to seek court orders to claim child support and prove he is the father.

Hope someone can help! Want to make sure my rights and this babies are protected considering the "father" decided we are too inconvenient in his life right now!


ETA - I do not know what my work situation will be in July, whether this temp job will stay open for me to return after 6 weeks or so, or whether I will be in a new permanent job by then.

[e_p]

I don't know about child support stuff, but I do know for 100% sure that if you opt to claim PPL, this does NOT affect your Parenting Payment Single - Govt Paid Parental Leave is not considered to be income for social security payments. It IS included as income for the purposes of FTBA (i.e. your income estimate) but if you receive Parenting Payment Single you are generally entitled to the max rate of FTBA. For the period you receive PPL, you are not eligible for FTBB, but I think the online estimator takes that into account.

Baby Bonus also doesn't effect your entitlement to other payments (other than PPL - you can only receive one or the other).

HTH!