hi all
was wondering if anyone has tried the centrelink rate calculator to work out thier PPP/FTA-B/rent assistance?

dp and i are expecting #1 in may and i am planning to be a SAHM. DP is casual at the moment making about $700 gross a week, soon going onto fulltime contract with the same company but his pay will be staying about the same (maybe $50 less or more a week).

i have been working part time since start of financial yr (jul 08) and finishing in 5 weeks, worked out i will have made between 10-14grand in that time...so on my 08/09 tax return i will have about 10-14 grand as income.

i tried out the rate calculator and did it as if bubs has just been born so i could get an estimate, it asked me what my income was for 08/09 tax yr, i was just wondering if that 10-14grand ive made before bubs has come will effect how much benefits i get, even though i wont be working once shes born?
i thought the benefits go off whether you are 'currently' working, which i wont be cause i will be a SAHM.

hope this makes sense? any help would be great!!
also if u did use the rate calculator and are now on benefits, how accurate was the calculator for u in comparison to the actual amt u receive? it seems like with ppp/ftba/ftbb/rent assist i will receive approx $450 a fornight, seems like alot on top of baby bonus too??
ok - first things first - if your partner is on 700gross per week, you won't qualify for PPP (if it's a smidge under you might, but i believe the current cut off is 1400 a fortnight to get $0 PPP) - so that answers question number one.

yes, your 10-14k WILL impact your FTB entitlement - the system doesnt look at what you earn in the period your baby is around, it looks at ANNUAL income. so from when bub is born to June 30, that money will make a difference to your FTBA and FTBB entitlement

from July 1 until you return to work, there is an option available to quarantine your income so that it only applies for FTBB PURPOSES from the date you return to work. so if you are a SAHM with no income from July 1 to Sept 30, you'll get max rate FTBB for that period and any income you earn from October 1 til June 30, will, for FTBB ONLY, be only applied to payments after that date. you have to return to work at least 10 hours per week and provide employment details for this to happen. your income will apply to FTBA for the WHOLE year though - the quarantining ONLY applies to FTBB

it's confusing, and messy, but that's how it works

my suggestion (for anyone that will be going back to work) is, for the new financial year (09/10) add what income you believe you'll earn to your partners income for FTBA purposes so that you don't get over paid. when you return to work yourself, you adjust his income down and put your income under your name so that it correctly impacts your payments

HTH

BG