Is it possible to live on centrelink alone?

[Sammiejane]

Mel,
Not going to comment on the payment stuff, cos eeryone else has told you...
But i can comment on the Nursing stuff.
When i did my training, i managed to work a fair bit around my lectures, depends what he wants to do... but in 2nd year i was working 3 shifts in a nursing home as well as studying... granted i didnt have a family to look after, but it certianly helped cash wise.

Another option could possibly be doing div 2 initially so that he will get credits towards div 1 and then he can work as a div 2 while studying and will have to do less subjects so could do more hours at work.
In Vic, you can do Div 2 in one year or 2 years as part of a sponsorship, so you are working through that time too - if that makes sense...
Just throwing in other options!

Now with national registration it will be better in that once you are qualified he (and then you) will be able to work anywhere in Aust without having to apply for a new registration - makes so much more sense!

Hope this helps

[Lulu]

I think the $$$ in the bank would probably affect hun. You might be expected to use that money first.

[deletedit]

Yup, if you apply for payment with $40k in the bank they might make you wait a year or something ridiculous before you can get payment. Sell the house once you're *on* a payment and it isn't the same.

I had this discussion with CL a while back as I have a house for sale (never sold it, it is rented now). I'd just be putting the proceeds into our new house if it sold though, rather than leaving cash lying around. I'm under the CL asset limit by a lot despite having three properties - one is vacant land and one is a large and very nice house worth barely more than the land, just in a cheap area - and my pay gets cut down because of the rent.

[Arimeh]

I'm sure BG took our money into account when doing the figures (didn't you BG? Or was I assuming you did.. LOL)

[mrsmac]

DD is doing nursing at uni and works FT at Maccas as a manger while she does it, admittedly her hours are all over the place and its weekend and night work too but it is doable.

[Rivlas]

DD and many of her friends are at Uni full time and have jobs. He will be able to pick up jobs but it will mean you will be doing alot of the parenting on yur own. He will get school holidays off and over Christmas time will be able to pick up extra work (except schools) as many want to go on leave.
A friend is doing nursing at the moment and is either going to apply for dispatch (emergency services) or orderly work.
I hope either of you go ahead and do this.

[butterfly_warrior]

DH and I survived with me on austudy and him on newstart. He stayed on newstart as he was doing a shorter course then me. Sure, we lived in a bit of a dump, and we weren't exactly eating gourmet meals. We didn't go out a lot, but we survived. We even kept up payments on the car loan at the time. Sure, no kids. But we managed with careful budgetting. Even when the gear box in the car exploded. I'm not sure I'd be wanting to do it for more than the 12 months we managed, though.

BW

[Anila]

I have not read all the above posts, but we have done it, and it was doable but very very hard!
We are now in debt and face a lot of financial issues, so if u do go ahead and do it, my advice is pay all bills and debt first!
Hubby was studying for 6 months, and then 6 mths unempoyed, we had to cancel home ph, foxtel, etc..and as u might have seen from a few fb posts it put a massive strain on my marriage.
But it is doable with 5 kids and they still kept soccer and dance, i just gave up my love of shopping lol
We almost lost the car, and it hasnt had a service cause its not in budget, we have sacrificed alot!
now hubby has a job its making things a bit easier.

[e_p]

Yup, if you apply for payment with $40k in the bank they might make you wait a year or something ridiculous before you can get payment. Sell the house once you're *on* a payment and it isn't the same

That is incorrect. Austudy is a payment that can attract a liquid assets waiting period - when you apply for payments, if a couple have liquid assets (cash, savings, term deposits, shares) in excess of $10,000 a waiting period will apply. The waiting period will be a maximum of 13 weeks and I will find out the number of weeks you will likely serve based on liquid assets of $40,000 and let you know. My best friends are currently in your situation, dad is a full time student on Austudy, mum is on Parenting Payment and they receive maximum rate of FTB A due to being in receipt of an income support payment - dad works casually and earns about $300 gross p/f which has very little impact on their Austudy (Austudy recipient can earn $236 p/f gross without any reduction in payment) and they pay a mortgage and get by ok (although they admit they will be in trouble if the car blows up/appliance dies etc). Austudy also now attracts a scholarship twice a year - this year $650 per semester but next year it will increase to $1000 per semester (paid in a lump sum at the beginning of the semester). If you sell the house (don't quote me on this because I'm not 100% sure) I think if you intend to purchase a new home with the proceeds of the funds, the money is exempt from the income and asset limits for 12 months from sale of the property.