Child Care Rebate - Eligibility While On Maternity Leave

[MrsB26]

ooopsie - i'm obviously confused about all centrelink stuff
Well then the answer is still yes - you will get it while on maternity leave, i am on maternity leave and still get it back for DS who goes twice a week.

[fionas]

yep, I currently get it back but haven't advised them that I'm on maternity leave and they're not mind readers so I'm not sure if I'm SUPPOSED to get it back. Can't get through on phone. Just don't want to be in a situation where I have to pay it back at the end of the year.

[~Kim~]

We aren't eligible for the %off either but still got the rebate, and I resigned whilst on mat leave but DD's last day was before my last day of service. We've done tax since then and they never asked for it back so

[Mak]

If you are on mat leave and intending to go back then you are fine for the rebate. It is only when you resign that you are no longer eligible as you are still employed.

[briggsy's girl]

If you are on mat leave and intending to go back then you are fine for the rebate. It is only when you resign that you are no longer eligible as you are still employed.

yeah, in a nut shell, that's it

if you are still employed, and in the first 12 months of your parental leave, you're entitled to CCR (and the number of hours you are entitled to will depend on your entitlement before you went on leave - so if you were working enough hours to qualify for 50 hours before you went on mat leave, you'll still be entitled to the same number of hours now)

[fionas]

thanks everyone.

I'm not intending to go back after my maternity leave ends but I'm not resigning either. We can apply for another two years' 'career break' so I'll probably be doing that. My preferred option would be to go back part-time but there are no part-time roles available so I will have a 'career break' instead.

BG - d'you know if I would still be entitled to the 50% rebate while I'm on a career break? I'm still technically employed - kinda like long service leave.

[briggsy's girl]

i don't believe you will be as it's deemed a period of LWOP (which isn't covered - the only LWOP that is covered is the parental leave period)

[MrsB26]

Sorry to hijack it a bit but BG, so say for example i decide not to return to work after 12 months maternity leave (i may extend it to 18 months instead) and my child goes to daycare only 2 days per week (so less than 24 hours per week) does that mean that after 12 months my CCR payments are ceased? Its so confusing!