Lump sum baby bonus GONE......

[Marlene]

Found this info here...

Baby Bonus means test and payment by instalments

From 1 January 2009 Baby Bonus will only be payable to families whose estimated combined adjusted taxable income is $75,000 or less in the first 6 months following the birth or adoption of a child. Baby Bonus will also no longer be available as a lump sum payment and instead will be paid in 13 fortnightly instalments to all recipients.

All Baby Bonus customers with babies born on or after 1 January 2009 will be affected by this measure.

There will be changes to the claiming process, as you will need to detail your estimated family income for the 6 month period following the birth or adoption of a child.

Receiving Baby Bonus in instalments over 13 fortnights may help families to better manage their finances during the period immediately following the birth or adoption of a child.

[Trillian]

That was announced ages ago too. THey have also changed how the maternity immunisation allowance is paid so you don't get it all at 18mths, you get some at 18mths and the rest after their 4yo vacc's to ensure that you continue vaccination to that point. I imagine that once a lot of people get it at 18mths, there is no 'incentive' for them to get the 4yo ones done.

[Marlene]

Isn't it funny how when the large lump sum baby bonuses first some out it was all over the news/current affairs, but when there are changes it barely rates a mention.

It doesn't affect me anyway, just wanted to let others know.

[BeautifulMadness]

if my hubby was earning 75k id be a happy women lol

[kawazuki]

most people will still get it as its teh first 6 months income not 12 months icnome.
and they would have to be on 150k plus a year to get a reduced rate.

i know that we dont earn near that.
we are lucky to earn 75k combined in 12 months after i have bub as i dont plan on going straight back this time

[Visitor8]

they announced this change about 10 months ago hun.

[briggsy's girl]

they announced this change about 10 months ago hun.

yup, it was announced in the 2008 budget on May 10 - it was all over the news for ages. i guess it may have been something you missed if you weren't interested in the budget info or if you weren't expecting or planning a kidlet cos it didn't apply to you at the time

[Willow]

We'll still qualify but meh, would rather get it in one hit. I've never received any payments from FAO or Centrelink before (other than at tax time on the very rare occasion we get anything at all) so fortnightly repayments seem...messy...to me! LOL. I'd rather just get it and be done with it.

Last time we used a big chunk to pay our ob fees. Thankfully we are covered by PHI this time, otherwise we'd be a bit up the creek in that regard.