Is it true?? $1000 per child??

[Arimeh]

Thanks BG.. you're a bloomin star!!

[Peach]

Well I am absolutley over the moon about this extra $2000 we get!! We are TTC #3 and KEnzie is ready to have her own little girls room. I thought she would have to have hand me down stuff from my eldest .. but I am going to do y part for the economy and spend it on a new bedroom fit for a princess!!! Usually I do the right thing and get something "practical" but this time it was a complete surprise and I am going to spend it! Just doing my bit for the economy hehe!

[Kailani]

Kind of OT...but the FHOG being doubled, is that only applicable until July next year? I think that's what I read/heard somewhere. If so then BOO We are planning to buy in 2010 Oh well! All these gov payments/bonuses and thresholds confuse the crap out of me. We've never received anything from the gov, so when this lil one comes along I'll be happy with whatever I'm eligible for
I think the $1000 per child bonus will be of great help to many families. I know my Mum will really appreciate it and it will most likely go towards credit card debt, mortgage or at least ease xmas pressure.

[Liz]

hmm ok... so I will log in later and update our income estimates but say I don't want any payments until the end of the year! Hopefully we'll be right for the $2000 But then, if it goes off last years (which we haven't done yet) then we probably won't qualify.

Surely they won't do it off people's estimates for this current year? We could all fudge it and say we're only earning $80k or something so we qualify.

[briggsy's girl]

i would assume if people don't qualify and are paid the payment, it will be raised as a debt the same as any other family assistance debt....

[Liz]

Cor.. that's a bit rough.. handing it out and then taking it back LOL.

[briggsy's girl]

yeah it is - but if someone deliberately tells a porky pie, just to get money they're not legally entitled to, it's better to get a debt than a fraud conviction kwim?

[Mama2two]

I wasnt sure if my family would recieve it either but just heard on the news its $1000 per child and will start being paid in the cycle of 8 december.

[Freya]

Hmm Im assuming I'll get it and although it will be a relief to get $2000 I think its ridiculous really (well not in the case of single parents/pensioners/carers). We'll be banking whats left after we buy Ds2 a big boy bed and maybe get in front on our utility bills. I can see it being completely abused by some people though.

Personally I think this has nothing to do with the economy (cause this money aint gonna fix it that easily) and more to do with K-Rudd realising he's not doing a good job and that people arent so in awe of him anymore, so give $$$ = make friends In 6mths time everyone will still be struggling and complaining about it, whats he going to do, make it a regular thing?

Btw we should be thanking Johnny Howard for the money not Rudd, its because of him leaving our economy + money not - money that Rudd had the 10.1 billion to do this.

[Indadhanu]

(OT... not to get into political debate but Kevin Rudd didn't cause the global financial crisis... nor could he have stopped it... and to be honest I think this is going to do exactly what he planned, I mean I'm sure a good proportion of parents -not all- are going to splurge on Christmas, and increasing spending in theory is going to help the economy)

[Freya]

I didnt mean to imply that he did, just that he's getting the glory from money saved by the previous government. Its because they left the govnment in such a good financial position when Rudd took over that we arent all up crud creek without a paddle so to speak. Probably the only thing anyone could pat them on the back for lol

[Frantelle]

HollyM,

The increase in the grant with apply for contracts exchanged after 17 October 2008 to 30 October 2009. Seeing as though the have put a time frame on it I would assume that it will only last for this period.

[kristy J]

Personally I think this has nothing to do with the economy (cause this money aint gonna fix it that easily) and more to do with K-Rudd realising he's not doing a good job and that people arent so in awe of him anymore, so give $$$ = make friends In 6mths time everyone will still be struggling and complaining about it, whats he going to do, make it a regular thing?
.

The point is to spend the money not to save it. its a relief effort, the more money we spend the better our economy does. if everyone spends an extra $1000 on food, furniture, fuel, the hairdresser etc it gives our bacic economy a boost. helps buisness make more money, even if it is for just a short time.

as long as he doesn't keep doing it i think its a good idea,

Just don't go and blow our (country's) savings kevin....but i will still vote liberal next time, not that anyone needs to know that.

[Indadhanu]

Probably the only thing anyone could pat them on the back for lol

now that i agree with!!

[Freya]

The point is to spend the money not to save it. its a relief effort, the more money we spend the better our economy does. if everyone spends an extra $1000 on food, furniture, fuel, the hairdresser etc it gives our bacic economy a boost. helps buisness make more money, even if it is for just a short time.

as long as he doesn't keep doing it i think its a good idea,

Just don't go and blow our (country's) savings kevin....but i will still vote liberal next time, not that anyone needs to know that.

I hardly think this one off is going to magically fix it all up. It'll help buts its still a long way off complete normality again. Explains the First home buyers increase though, if spending $$$ helps fix the economy then he's encouraging people to think that nows the time to buy a house because they get extra govn help, not allowing for the fact that a) houses are worth less than the mortgage owed on them and b) how on earth will any of us pay mortgage payments when life (and interests rates) go back to normal? $1000 per kid is really a drop in a bucket in the grand scheme of things.

This has made me wonder is there is an independent financial body to offer the country unbiased advice on all this govt spending etc?

[LotusMel]

$1000 for each child on 8th dec, FTB part A, and it usually is tax free, hope this helps, we've got 5 so woohoo!!!

[~clover~]

I just wanted to say that I had to ring c'link this morning & the message on there says the payment will be UP TOO $1000.
So it still might be income tested.

[Mum2SweetCs]

I am very glad that Ruddie has given some extra benefits to pensioners and low/middle income earner.

I am however, bummed out that I just missed out. Reason? Because I saved up annual leave to take off as maternity leave (which we had to stretch out to make ends meet for the additional months I wanted to take off)

My company does not pay maternity leave so my annual leave was taken so I can stay at home with DD. This of course is counted as INCOME! and of course makes me fall short of any tax benefits.

I rang up Centrelink a few months ago and they said FTB A or B (forgot which one) is based on the past financial year.
So because i took an additional 5 months UNPAID LEAVE off after JUNE, this means that I wont qualify this past financial year. Maybe next yr I will. All too confusing for me