as Eutra said, you can apply for the ftb/ppl up to three months in advance. based on the income you've listed, you'd be looking at ftba, perhaps ftbb - and the ppl

ftbb is based on the lower income earner and the age of the youngest child. you will have whatever income from your employer from july 1 plus the ppl, so you'll be entitled to a partial payment. it will be payable both before the ppl starts (as it is an annual entitlement) and after ppl finishes. for the 18 weeks you receive ppl, you can't get ftbb

ftba is based on the whole family income, so the ftbb stuff as listed above, plus your partners income. the amounts for next years entitlements are yet to be released, but at a guess, if you have two kids and you're on about 85k combined (70 for him, 15 for you - ballpark as i said) you'd be around the 100 a fn payment


you can definitely apply in advance for both payments (ftb and ppl) - and i would strongly suggest you do - especially the ppl side of things. the processing team will look at your application, make sure there is a connection with your employer, and if any more info is needed, they will contact you then - if you don't do the preclaim, all this stuff can slow down your application after the baby is born. once bub is born, you lodge the paperwork that you get from hospital - it includes proof of birth at the back, but also lots of other stuff so make sure you complete the WHOLE form (surprising how many people don't lo) - then sent it off to be processed (there is a replied paid envelope - i would suggest against lodging at medicare unless you need the card quickly - it takes longer that way as they collect and then send for processing so it may create delays). it will take several weeks to process. if you nominate baby's EDD as start date, you will eventually be back paid, but you can nominate a start date anywhere up until bub is 34 weeks old (full 18 weeks must be paid by first bday) - or 18 weeks before you intend to return to work (if your return to work, ppl stops)