I finally found some understandable information on the Centrelink website regarding my predictament re: whether paid parental leave counts as declarable income. It has answers to other questions too which may be of interest to you.
Here is the link: Paid Parental Leave Scheme - Questions and answers for working parents
"Will Parental Leave Pay count as income for family assistance payments?
Parental Leave Pay will count as income for Family Tax Benefit and other family assistance payments, but not for income support payments. You should include any Parental Leave Pay you expect to receive in your adjusted taxable income estimate for Family Tax Benefit purposes."
Parenting Payment (Single) is counted as an income support payment so my understanding now is that it won't be effected. However I still don't understand why I wouldn't be eligible for Family Tax Benefit part B (which I currently get).
It states:
"Can I receive Family Tax Benefit Part B as well as Parental Leave Pay?
You and/or your partner cannot receive Family Tax Benefit Part B during your Paid Parental Leave period. Family Tax Benefit Part B may be paid after the end of your Paid Parental Leave period, if you are eligible."
I'm not sure if that means you don't get it for the period of parental leave or that you can claim it afterwards and have it back paid for that period. Currently I get Family Tax Benefit part B as we are a single income family (well there is only one adult) so not sure why I can't get it just because my income is coming from the paid parental leave rather than a job or parenting payment? Might need to look into that bit.
It is certainly not straight forward at all. It seems like they have introduced it to make it seem like they are trying to help mothers but at the end of the day it's not really going to cost them much more than what they were already paying in baby bonus and family tax benefits.
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