And this is far more important than any statistic!!:
Chrissy, if you tell the dentist that you're pregnant, they'll know what they can and can't do (assuming they're a good dentist). At our first OB appointment, the midwife actually made quite a point of recommending a dental checkup. My sister also made me promise because she read a story about a woman losing her bub because she had untreated gum disease (the bacteria can spread throughout the body in the bloodstream). The hormones we've got going on now affect your gums the same way they affect your sinuses (can cause inflammation, etc).
airline, yes, if you're eligible for both baby bonus and PPL then you can choose which one you get, but you don't get both.
Lairdoz, that sucks. :( The PPL is the only good thing that the labor government have done for us, but even so we're still worse off overall (and my employer may end up cutting back on their employer-paid PPL entitlements because of the government scheme, so then I'll be worse off on the PPL front as well... :rolleyes:).
Hi to everyone else!! :hello:
Afm, I survived my trip to the dentist!! :leap: Yay! The bad news is that I need two fillings, but I need to wait until my gag reflex settles down a bit. :redface: She also recommended an xray after bub arrives to check for cavities she can't see. Really, after so long between visits, I don't think I can complain about 2 fillings! And the teeth that have been hurting when I eat/drink something hot or cold were all fine, so I just need some sensitive toothpaste for those.
On the government payment issue, I've done a lot of reading for that because I'm on the committee that wrote our parental leave policy. You can choose between either the baby bonus or paid parental leave (PPL) if you're eligible for both. There's supposed to be a calcultor on the Family Assistance website later (from October?) to tell you what you'd get for each. If you're only eligible for one of them, then obviously, you'd choose to get that one.
The baby bonus is means tested based on the family income in the 6 months following the birth. If the family has a taxable income of more than $75k in that 6 months then you don't get the bonus. There are also other requirements.
The PPL is means tested based on the individual's income in the 12 months prior to the birth. The primary care-giver claiming the PPL must have a taxable income of less that $150k in the 12 months prior to the birth. There are also work tests to be met (minimum number of hours/months of work completed in the 13 months prior to the birth) and other requirements. The interesting (and for some people, controversial) part of the PPL, is that you get paid the PPL (assuming you're eligible) if your baby is stillborn (ie from 20wks on, no matter what outcome). I find it particularly interesting since many of us wouldn't be able to take 18 weeks off work in that circumstance (my employer's policy allows for 3 weeks, which may be extended at their discretion, but they can choose not to), and once you return to work you stop getting the PPL.
Supposedly, those two means tests are meant to be "equivalent". Can anyone work that out? We'd romp in on one and (just barely) fail the other... :dunno:
