The million $$ Q's of Centrelink...how soon can we do the Baby Bonus forms and more!

[PumpkinZulu]

So, I just exploded my brain on the CL website...man it confuses me! I'm planning on just making an appointment to go in and speak to someone anyway, but I know how busy and clogged they can be there (even though my branch is awesome, I don't want to drag them down too much with my ignornace LOL) so here I am. BG hehe. And anyone else who can be of help.

Basically.

We will be eligable for a number of payments. The baby bonus, I'll go over from YA to the PP, DF will stay on his YA, and I *think* last time we were in, the lady said we'd be eligable for FTB A&B.

So my question is - when can we start off the BB claim form? What do we need to do/organise? And are there any other forms we can lodge in advance? Please be gentle with me, I find CL very overwhelming at the best of times lol.

[Teeki]

I had these exact same questions! In the end I couldn't get an appointment for a time that I could actually go in, so I called up and spoke to a really lovely helpful guy. I've done my lodgement online, and said on there that bubs is due 04/06. They sent me a text asking to send in forms (I'm assuming they mean proof of birth & proof of income?) but I haven't done this yet. It was my understanding that I'd take in all the necessary info after bubs is born.

Also, they seemed to get the start date of my parental leave wrong - I want it to start after my work maternity leave, so 24 weeks after birth, but they have it starting on the birth date.

Anywho, after all that - you should be able to start right now!

[Astrolady]

Baby bonus you cant start till after the baby is born. My hospital used to have the forms sitting on your beside cabinet in maternity. They need a hospital stamp and a signature (from memory) so they were there all stamped and ready for you to take home by the time you arrived in maternity after having the baby. FTA A & B would be the same not until after the baby is born.

[PumpkinZulu]

Thaks guys Astro, I thought with BB you could start putting in some of the forms in before bub was born? Not sure if that's true though

[briggsy's girl]

nah it's changed now kat!

you can start doin your baby bonus and ftb claims online from 3 months before EDD - so now basically. you need to register for online services (i'm assuming you may already be though, due to YA) - go to make a claim (i think - top or second option on left hand menu in online services anyway) and apply for ftb (parent or guardian question set). answer each of the questions. you only need to do this because it's your first baby (just in case anyone else is reading lol)

anyway, answer all the questions as they come up - one will ask you if you have a child or are expecting a child. it will then ask if you wish to claim baby bonus. fill that in, submit it. check what "evidence" is required at the end - it should only be proof of birth. once Isla arrives, you fill in the 8 page claim that you get in your welcome pack, and lodge it. it will still take 3-4 weeks to process even though you've done the pre-claim. the pre-claim allows them to get an extra details so you are not left waiting longer if they want more info. fill in the paperwork in the welcome pack completely so it isn't rejected cos of not enough info. that form has proof of birth on the back page. make sure you tick that you have registered or applied to register birth (form is also in your welcome pack)

when Isla arrives, you will need to claim parenting payment. this will be a phone call - can take up to half hour but because you are already on payments, it should be quicker (i can get through "transfer" applications in 10 minutes - but if your circs have changed, it can take longer)

with your ftb estimates, you need to do both a six month and financial year estimates - the six month is immediately after isla's birth and includes, for both of you, your income support and work payments (if any). the financial year is july 1 2010-june 30 2011.

hope that helps a bit!

[Teeki]

Yeah, I did what BG has mentioned. Once I started putting in income estimates, it actually told us what we'd be eligible for WRT FTB A&B, and it seemed to just give questions relating to our particular circumstances.

Thanks for clarifying things for me too BG

[PumpkinZulu]

Thanks BG!! I think I get it ( ) I do use online services atm to report my earnings p/f, so at least I know how to do that

[briggsy's girl]

it's ok if you only suspect you get it hun - it's not as cut and dried as it could be given everyones circs are different

you generally know how to find me if you need more advice