Claiming for parental leave, FTB etc

[Teeki]

Thanks Fiona. I hopped online to do the parental leave claim, and it came up with FTB stuff anyway. I'm a bit lost though, as for now it's obviously calculating everything for this year, ending 30/06/2011. So I've put in what I'll earn for this tax year, but as our baby isn't due until 04/06, that's when things will change. So after she's born, will I need to hop back online to change things for the next tax year?

[FabFiona]

No idea, I haven't done mine yet!

[briggsy's girl]

you can claim up to three months before EDD, online. in that claim, you will need to estimate your income for the 10/11 year. it will be processed and accepted, pending proof of birth. once your proof of birth (the paperwork from the hospital) is received, you will become active. it can take about 3 weeks from when it is received.

once it is received, and your payments activated, you will be asked to provide an income estimate for the new financial year too

you will need to put in a 10/11 estimate, and an estimate for the six months immediately following EDD, both in the online claim and on your paper form - so keep a record of what you put in the online claim - baby/new mummy brain makes it easy to forget!

[FabFiona]

BG - What if you are not eligible based on 10/11 estimated income, but for the purposes of the baby bonus you will be eligible for projected 6 month income being under $75K?

[Teeki]

Thanks heaps BG I've kept a record of everything I put in the claim form, cos I knew I'd forget it in 10 seconds after hitting submit lol. The other thing I was wondering is about when the payments start. I'll be taking 24 weeks of leave from work at half pay, and then doing the parental leave 18 weeks after that. But will the parental leave pay start straight away, or can I ask for it to start after my work leave?

[briggsy's girl]

Thanks heaps BG I've kept a record of everything I put in the claim form, cos I knew I'd forget it in 10 seconds after hitting submit lol. The other thing I was wondering is about when the payments start. I'll be taking 24 weeks of leave from work at half pay, and then doing the parental leave 18 weeks after that. But will the parental leave pay start straight away, or can I ask for it to start after my work leave?

it will ask you what date you wish to start it from

[Teeki]

Thanks again BG. The online claim I did didn't ask for a start date, I'm guessing though that's because I haven't actually had my baby yet though?

[briggsy's girl]

BG - What if you are not eligible based on 10/11 estimated income, but for the purposes of the baby bonus you will be eligible for projected 6 month income being under $75K?

you still claim ftb for this year - it will ask if you've had a new baby or will have one come into your care within 3 months - you say yes, and it will take you through the claim for baby bonus or parental leave