Lulu has pretty much summarised it all - but i would be up and on the phone to FAO first thing in the morning so that it gets sorted ASAP. as you're not receiving payments from work at all, you'll be eligible for parenting payment at max rate - and even when you do return to work, you might still be eligible for part payment depending on your income. max rate is around $555 a fortnight.
FTBA and B will go to max rate from the date you seperated - at first you'll be asked to estimate your income (but it will be less than 42k i assume, given you're on unpaid mat leave) so FTBA will go to around 150 a fortnight, FTBB to 125ish (sorry, working from memory cos i've not been at work for months!)
when you ring tomorrow (phone lines open at 8am), first thing you want to do is let them know you're seperated and currently on FTB only - they should be able to seperate your files and increase your FTB. then you can go through application for parenting payment - as long as you get any info to them within 14 days, it will be paid from the date you rang (so tomorrow).
things to keep in mind - what sort of arrangement will you have in place for shared care of DS - i'm assuming that you will have primary care and his dad will have access times. if you have more than 65% care, you get max FTBA (less child support over a certain threshold - if you get more than about 1800 a year, any dollar over that, you lose 50c in the dollar of FTBA over that year). if your ex has more than 14% care, there is a reduction in child support he has to pay. it gets a bit complicated, but not too bad - child support and fao just work it out - all you need to do is work out how many nights a year DS will spend with his dad... with child support, no matter how amicable things are at the moment, i would suggest you get them to collect payment - you get paid once a month, so not ideal - but if things DO turn nasty, or he gets lazy - they will chase up money he owes you!
as Lulu mentioned, as your child is under 6, you won't have any job seeker obligation - when he turns six, you'll be obliged to look for work or engage in work/study/training for at least 15 hours a week to get payment. but that's a looong way off. look at your current situation and worry about the other stuff later. the main thing for now is to get yourself some financial security for now...
as to work - do what is best for you - i'm guessing you are a full timer going back - maybe talk to your employer about going back part time if you're wanting to get back into the work force - some are really flexible like that. but don't fret if you don't go back - you won't be penalised as you're going on parenting payment, not newstart - so you can resign with no drama.
Thanks for the quick replies. Haven't managed to find the calculator you speak of but I'm only just registering for internet access today so maybe I'll see it when I get registered.
Lulu it is kinda sudden but not exactly unexpected. Let's just say my women's intuition has been on red alert for a while now and I'm now taking action.
on the c'link website go to online services on top left hand side of home page - when you're in there, scroll to near the bottom and it will have options for things you can do without registering - one of them is the rate estimator...
Thanks for the info briggsys girl. It's hard to think about dealing with all the financial stuff right now so it's nice to know there are people here who know what they are tlaking about. I think I've found the calculator now.
Oh hun I am so sorry for you. Men can be such @#$%&^%*&^ can't they.
Look after yourself, it is a very tough time emotionally and with a baby it is even worse.
Can't really help on the money side, but I have been there and understnad the roller coaster of emotions.
Sorry to hear about the split Satya and hope you're doing OK.
Apart from the Centrelink advice, it might also be worth having a word with your bank. I know some of them are open to suspending your mortgage while on maternity leave, or you could ask about interest only repayments - we've done that while I'm only working part-time for up to three years and it's saving us heaps.
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