Parenting Payment

Hey guys

I am going to be fairly heavily reliant on CL payments to survive financially after bubs is born - due to some recent occurances. I have changed my working arrangements so i can work right up until the birth of bubs and will be returning to work full time within about 5 months or so - probably earlier part time though.

My understanding of it is - i cant apply until after bubs is born (i wont be eligiable until then anyway) and payments will begin after that. How long does it normally take for payments to kick in?? I am going to pre prepare all the forms so they can be submitted asap afterwards to minimise delays. But i am really stressed about this, as i have not had good experiences in the past.

I am saving as much as i can at the moment to try and cover me in between my pay ceasing and CL starting, which would have been ok - BUT i went into early labour on friday (thankfully they were able to stop it! :pray: ) but i have been told by my OBS to expect this baby to be born fairly early - which screws up my savings not to mention bubs wont be finished cooking!

Its just i have not had good experiences in the past - it took over 3 months for them to process a disability payment for myself - when i clearly was - I was in a wheelchair and back brace FFS! Even then they wouldnt pay it, they made me go on newstart allowence! So i still had to meet looking for work criteria to get my payment - but thats a whole other rant!!!

So yeah needless to say i am stressing right out about this. Its is NOT the finacial situation that i expected to be in when i was bringing a baby into this world - far far from it...

parenting payment - if you qualify and return all the paperwork within a fortnight, is generally processed within three weeks of your initial contact and will be backpaid to the date of initial contact (so if you have baby monday, contact friday - it would be paid from the friday so long as you return all relevant information within two weeks of that date)

the processing for disability payments is very different to other income support payments - it looks at long term disability, not short term. if you're in a wheelchair for a limited time due to injury, you would more than likely go on newstart/sickness allowance. disability pensions look at people with a chronic problem that will last at least two years....

Elyse,

I used to work at CL, so i'll try and help!

From what I can remember, Parenting Payment claims take 28 days, while Disability claims need on average 42 or 49 days as they require a specialist to assess your application...

Once the baby is born, give CL a ring and do a questionaire over the phone for both PP and family tax benefit. The call will take about 30mins to 1 hour, depending on how complicated your situation is. Once that is done, they'll wither book you an appointment at the office, or tell you to go in as a walk-in.

Make sure you have paperwork like last few months of payslips, any details of maternity leave payments, any compo claim info.. basically anything relating to money.

Also, make sure you have a 2008/2009 and possibly a 2009/2010 income estimate ready. Work out how much you think YOU will earn in the financial year, including any projected parenting payments (don't include FTB payments) and then work out your DF's financial year estimate.

They'll want to know wages, leave payments, tax-free income, fringe benefit etc all as separate figures.

They will back date FTB from date child is born, and while my memory is rusty, i think that they also backdate PP to that date too, providing to apply within a certain timeframe. To be sure, get on the phone as soon as you are able.
Hope this all helps - from what i can remember they were streamlining the process so it may even be easier than that. You have to remember it's not just a matter of plugging in a bit of info into the computer, they have to ensure you are entitled to your payment.

Good luck and have a H&H rest of pregnancy!

I just recently separated from my husband and went in on the 10th to claim the Parenting Payment (single). Im getting a part payment tomorrow which covers from when I first told them of my change in circumstances and then I get PP on one wednesday and then my FTB on the following wednesday and so on.

They were extremely helpful and understand of my need for income ASAP. Just make sure you have all your paperwork and relevant info on hand so there is no need to be in and out :)

i just did the whole intent to claim over the phone thing a hour ago ;)
my hubby goes back onto newstart with hopes of going to neis asap. (but thats another big story)
I was asked verfiying questions and then told i would recieve the forms on or before friday. I gather my phone interview was so very short as hubby had given most of the details, the last time i was on PP was over 2yrs ago so maybe that too.

When they send out forms they always give a letter that has a cut-off date. If you dont have the forms back in by that date.. you have to re-claim and thats the new date the payment would be back dated too.

Good luck. Hope it all works out for you and bubs!