Advice re returning to work & CCB

Evening Ladies & Gents,

Was hoping that some of you who are FAO guru's or have been in this same predicament would be able to offer some help & advice.

A bit of background:
I am due to return to work in July (part time). From going on leave last June I planned on going back, but after doing the number crunching it is not really financially viable for me to work we will be paying more out in childcare fees a f/n than I will be earning and that is not including petrol/road tolls. DS1 remained in childcare as he has been going since he was 7mths old and we thought that keeping his routine was important.

My worry is that we have been receiving CCB as my intentions were to return to work. Obviously we do not want to have a debt with the FAO and I will go back if needs be. Do I just have to have earned money in this financial year or do I have to have earned a certain amount or worked a certain amount? I will go back if there is a period/amount required. It would be at our cost roughly $200 out of pocket per fortnight. I went on annual leave in June till my maternity leave kicked in on the 11th July so I have earned money this financial year approx $1000. I have used the FAO calculators and checked our figures over and over again with different scenarios.

Hope the above comes across correctly so that you can all understand.

Cheers and thank you for any advice.

Hansie

you are eligible for child care rebate for 12 months from commencement of paid or unpaid maternity leave provided you intend to return to work. if you have decided not to return to work, you need to notify fao so that the child care rebate stops being paid to you or you may end up with an overpayment.

even as a stay at home parent, you are eligible for 24 hours per week of childcare benefit, so that bit won't be a problem - it's the child care rebate (the 50% of out of pocket costs that you get every three months) that you need to be concerned about

Ah thank you BG. I had it the wrong way round. I thought it was the CCR you still received and not the CCB. We are still trying to work things out as DH is waiting on an answer for a promotion he was interviewed for and the above is based on his approximate salary if he was to get this new position. Positive thinking lol.

I don't know how to word this correctly. If I was to inform FAO now that I wasn't returning would I have to pay back the CCR? This is a huge decision for me not to return to work so in order not to have a huge over payment is there a set time I need to work for if I was to go back for a short time or do I just need to show that I worked this financial year. Gosh I am so confused. We haven't made the decision yet. Weighing up FD, CC & if DH doesn't get the promotion.

Thanks for your help really appreciate it. At the beginning it was never a question of would I wouldn't I. It was always I will, so this has totally thrown me.

Thanks again

No. You claimed in good faith. Just tell them you have decided not to return to work as of x date (whatever date you decide for sure you wont go back)

Thank you so very much BG.