Parenting Payment and FTB questions

When I go to work and Shel is SAHM (and obviously if we are still under the income threshold) is Shel able to claim parenting payment? Qld doesn't yet recognise us both as mums legally, but since we are seen as a couple now I'd assume they'd at least see Shel as a guardian, which would make her eligible to claim parenting payment?

Someone told us we'd have to have her down as a 'carer'???? And not a parent/guardian?

Also, does it matter who claims FTB? If it does matter then would Shel be able to claim that, or does it have to keep coming in my name?

if you are classed as a couple for ftb purposes it wont make any difference who claims and you will get the same no matter which namre it's in. is better not to change who claims due to the pita mess at tax time nwith reco, some supplements to one ptr some to the other. if your estimates were out at ant point you may get a debt for one, credit for the other etc

i havent been at work since it changed to include same sex couples but i believe it was to be set up so either ptr could claim pp but not both kwim?

Yep cool I thought so about the FTB, I didn't think it mattered because it goes on couples income no the person who claims.

Yeah basically we were just thinking if we're under the threshold it'd be better for us to have Shel claim because partners income is higher than the person claiming and the HCC is handy to have!

Thanks darl :D

yeah for sure!
at the moment DH is earning more than me, but if i go back and he does the SAHD thing, i'll be swapping us over to the opposite way around. but FTB will stay as is