Applying for Parenting Payment

DP has started an apprenticeship so I think we might be eligible for some income support (have done the estimator). It says on the site that you register an intent to claim and one of the options is to go into your local DHS Service Centre - is that the easiest way? What information do we need to bring? DP might be eligible for austudy too going by the estimator and rent assistance(?) so should we bring our lease or does that happen later? What about info about his apprenticeship? Just want to sort it out all as efficiently as possible and since DP has Thurs off this week thought that would be a good day to go in and do it. Is it a fairly straightforward process?

Call them up first, I had to book an appointment time and they told me over the phone all the things I would need to bring to the interview. The hardest part is the long wait on the phone but then I was lucky to get very helpful lady who went thru alot questions to work out my entitlements then booked me the appt.

Doh, was hoping to avoid the long phone queue especially at this time of year but guess I'll call them up next nap time.

Try catch them as soon as they open I think 8am

I think you'll have to wait til Monday to call. Are you registered for online services? Its usually down over the weekends, but you might be able to start the process online.

your DP can apply for Austudy online and should do it as soon as possible. Today if he can - he'll only be paid from the date he applied. Austudy can ONLY be applied for online (not over the phone or in office). The online claim
will tell him what documents he will need to supply for the claim to be assessed and he or you (with his permission) can lodge the documents in the nearest DHS service centre.

PP you need to do over the phone first, then they'll usually make an appointment or tell you a window of time to go to an office and what to take. Call first thing in the morning if you can. If you go into an office, they will most likely direct you to a phone.

If you supply all of the documents they ask for at the first point and your situation is simple (no investment properties etc) it should be reasonably straightforward :)

Goodluck!

Oops! Forgot it is the weekend since DP is at work lol. Okay, so...

Step 1: get DP to sign up for online services (I have it but don't think DP does yet) and apply for austudy
Step 2: call on Monday about intent to claim

Thanks for all the help.