Single parenting payment under the same roof....possible??

[amber]

Well, my husband and I broke up last week (sad but a long time coming!) and we're still living in the same house.
We own it and don't have a huge amount of equity in it but have HUGE repayments ($900 wk ) so it's not something either of us could do alone.
The problem is, our DD starts school next year and to be in this area we'd have to pay that much in rent anyway and because the market is so crap we'd end up having to come out with a debt AND no house!
It's a 2 storey so we're thinking of putting a kitchen in upstairs and making it like 2 flats. That way we can keep our house, DD gets to see us both and we don't come out with a debt (other than the bloody huge mortgage!)
I spoke to Centrelink and they said the chances of obtaining single parenting payment under those circumstances is unlikely
I can understand it is something people can take advantage of but if we can show them we've actually split the house up surely it would be ok??
I have an interview xmas eve, no idea what to do/say. We have both worked so hard to get this house and to have to walk away with a debt would be horrible .

TIA

[Ilithyia]

Hi Amber,

Sorry to hear about your sepration.

My ex and I lived under the same roof for a while after separating. I was recieving Centrelink payments at the time but was contstantly being harassed by them with forms, calls etc asking about our living arrangements. We both had to fill in forms which asked questions about the living arrangements such as who slept where, did we share bathroom, kitchen, laundry etc, who washes the clothes and does the grocery shopping and even were we sexually active together!! I guess its all with the intention of making sure that you are actually separated and not trying to defraud them out of money.

I hope it all works out for you hun!

Good luck!

[~Lashes~]

good luck. it is possible, but a LOT of having to prove this and that, my friend was split from her partner, but in the same house, she moved into the babies room and had to prove to centerlink that they had infact split, i think she needed friends and family to verify all this as well as the huge amount of paper work and questions she was given. he has since moved out, but i know she was on single payments befor he actualy left.
good luck with it.

[amber]

Thanks so much for the reply Sara!

I figured it wasn't going to be easy...I can probably deal with the calls etc (hopefully!) if it means we can keep the house. I guess at least it's better than the other option. I've looked at rentals and it's insanely expensive here!
Did they do it for long? I'm at uni full time so will really need their help for a couple more years.

And yeah, totally understandable because of people that do defraud but hopefully spending thousands on a kitchen will convince them it's over. Hopefully??

[amber]

Thanks Sarah 87, we posted at the same time

I spent about half an hour on the phone today answering questions and I'm not sure how long my interview on Friday will be.
I really don't mind doing it, I just hope it works out

Thanks so much for your replies!

[Lulu]

The decision is made by meeting a certain crieria. One of them goes along the lines of you both being advantaged by the situtation financially, which you will be. I think this will make it harder, they are all done on a very individual basis.

Could you both come to some agreement to remain in the house together, splitting the payments etc without getting C'link involved at all?

[Ilithyia]

Thanks so much for the reply Sara!

I figured it wasn't going to be easy...I can probably deal with the calls etc (hopefully!) if it means we can keep the house. I guess at least it's better than the other option. I've looked at rentals and it's insanely expensive here!
Did they do it for long? I'm at uni full time so will really need their help for a couple more years.

And yeah, totally understandable because of people that do defraud but hopefully spending thousands on a kitchen will convince them it's over. Hopefully??

Your more than welcome hun.

Unfortunetly the hounding continued until my ex moved out with the girls.

My "case" went to a private investigator man who had to make a decision based on my information about whether it was suitable for us to be living together. He didn't think it was and gave me a couple of months to be moved into my own place.

I am a full time Student also and know how hard it is to struggle on Centrelink so I hope it all works out for the best hun!

Thinking of you!
x

[amber]

I think we'll have to Lulu!
As I'm at uni full time and I start work part time next year it will be a stretch (my ex had been paying the while amount previously but busniess is bad so we've been going further behind each week so something needed to give either way)
So yeah, I'm not sure we have a choice but it would be REALLY helpful to be able to at least help him out with a few hundred a week. We've done the maths every way we can think of and if I move out and pay rent somewhere else I won't be able to help him with repayments and then he won't be able to afford it.
And putting a kitchen in is going to cost us a mint!!

[amber]

Wow Sara

That sucks! Gah...as if splitting up isn't hard enough without finances getting all sticky

Thanks for the luck, sounds like I'll need it

[briggsy's girl]

there are lots of factors taken into account and each case is dealt with individually - you should have been sent a living arrangements form, and this will be reviewed VERY regularly (if payment is granted) - generally there is a limit to how long it will be supported and it is a fairly limited time frame

[amber]

I just called them today BG, so hopefully the forms will get here before my interview!
I didn't really expect that they'd help out at all, it was pretty much a clutching at straws type deal!

So even if it is granted it's only temporary? I'd hate to invest thousands in a kitchen and then find out I couldn't stay here

[amber]

Hi guys!

Just wanted to give you an update, Centrelink have granted me the payment! I am soooo relieved! I took in house plans and photos of the kitchen I've already purchased (2nd hand) so I guess that was enough for them.
I don't mind how many times they come over/call etc, I am just so glad to be able to stay in my house!

Thank you all so much for your help!!!

[toomanyshoes]

My SIL and her "ex partner" lived in the same house, him down stairs and mind you it was just a room not even a kitchen/bathroom and she got her payments without any hassle at all.

But for some reason she seems able to rip the system off the last 10 years and get away with it!

Hope it all goes well and you find something that works!

[~*familyof3*~]

Glad you got your payment hun I was going to say you can get one as long as you meet the components its normally a lengthy task but they can get it

[e_p]

Amber - I see a LOT of people living in your situation - I'm really glad to hear you've been granted single status - expect to be reviewed every 3-6 months - if your circumstances haven't changed you shouldn't have any issues with your single status being retained. Be sure to let Centrelink know of any changes as soon as possible to avoid any issues