Setting my own baby bonus commencement date

[FabFiona]

Hullo,

I'm not eligible for the Govt Paid Parental Leave Scheme (long, sad story!) but we will be eligible for the baby bonus this time.

Can I elect to receive the baby bonus after my workplace paid mat leave scheme stops? I'd like to take the workplace scheme payments first, then the baby bonus.

Anyone know?

Cheers,
Fiona

[Lisa]

You can apply for the baby bonus within the first 26 weeks after your baby arrives. Perhaps this will help you to work out when to apply. Keep in mind that it can take up to 21 days to come through, if there are no other issues with your application.

[MrsBexie]

Yeah, just apply near the end of your maternity leave... they don't backpay BB so whenever you apply, it will be paid after that

[FabFiona]

Do you know if I can apply now (because I like to be organised and the thought of doing Centrelink forms makes me want to hurt people!) but elect a commencement date?

[briggsy's girl]

you cant set an exact commencement date for baby bonus like you can paid parental leave

takes three to four to process from lodgement of paperwork. if you decide you wish to claim ftb straight away and baby bonus later, you will need to do an online claim about 4 weeks before you want it to start - BUT there will be no guarantee of the start date from there