Maternity leave and centrelink entitlements

HI All,

I need Centrelink for dummies help. Of the 12 years I have worked, i have not claimed any benefits so am not sure where to start.

Firstly, I will be going on Mat leave for DD2 starting August. My company does not pay maternity leave pay so I will only be getting the govt one.

I have 2 weeks annual leave left to which I will take that then hoping to claim the 18 weeks from the govt.

Am I entitled to claim any other benefits and which tax return will they use to assess?
If they use 2011-2012 tax return then obviously i wont be entitled to anything but after the 18 weeks we are basically on low income (70k)

How do i go abouts claiming and am i entitled to anything?

thanks in advance!

you may be eligible for Family Tax Benefit :) You can apply online for FTB and the Paid Parental Leave up to 3 months prior to your EDD, then after your bub is born you can take the proof of birth document (the hospital will give you this) to C'link for the claim to be finalised.

double post

Once the mat leave finishes, you will have to provide your income for the current financial year of what you have earned to be assessed to get any additional payments.

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Once the mat leave finishes, you will have to provide your income for the current financial year of what you have earned to be assessed to get any additional payments.

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for which payments? FTB is based on the income estimate for the full financial year. If you're thinking of Parenting Payment, that would be based on the income at the time (current) but given that the partner income limit is $1500p/fn gross, and the OP stated they will have income of approx $70k, I don't think they'll be eligible.

as Eutra said, you can apply for the ftb/ppl up to three months in advance. based on the income you've listed, you'd be looking at ftba, perhaps ftbb - and the ppl

ftbb is based on the lower income earner and the age of the youngest child. you will have whatever income from your employer from july 1 plus the ppl, so you'll be entitled to a partial payment. it will be payable both before the ppl starts (as it is an annual entitlement) and after ppl finishes. for the 18 weeks you receive ppl, you can't get ftbb

ftba is based on the whole family income, so the ftbb stuff as listed above, plus your partners income. the amounts for next years entitlements are yet to be released, but at a guess, if you have two kids and you're on about 85k combined (70 for him, 15 for you - ballpark as i said) you'd be around the 100 a fn payment


you can definitely apply in advance for both payments (ftb and ppl) - and i would strongly suggest you do - especially the ppl side of things. the processing team will look at your application, make sure there is a connection with your employer, and if any more info is needed, they will contact you then - if you don't do the preclaim, all this stuff can slow down your application after the baby is born. once bub is born, you lodge the paperwork that you get from hospital - it includes proof of birth at the back, but also lots of other stuff so make sure you complete the WHOLE form (surprising how many people don't lo) - then sent it off to be processed (there is a replied paid envelope - i would suggest against lodging at medicare unless you need the card quickly - it takes longer that way as they collect and then send for processing so it may create delays). it will take several weeks to process. if you nominate baby's EDD as start date, you will eventually be back paid, but you can nominate a start date anywhere up until bub is 34 weeks old (full 18 weeks must be paid by first bday) - or 18 weeks before you intend to return to work (if your return to work, ppl stops)

thanks ladies i will def apply 3mths ahead!

I better start downloading the forms and read them!

you don't have to download anything hun - you register and apply online!

doh and i thought i was being smart by downloading the forms instead of going in the office to get a hard copy ehhehe. Online it is!

Thanks ladies!

Another question, because i dont get CCB at the moment, is that a separate application as well? or does it get auto calculated if i get FTB?

Separate application. You can do it online too!