Centrelink payment before birth - how hard is this going to be?

Ok, so since I have been studying at uni, I am on Youth Allowance. I've just applied for a Leave at uni, so not considered to be studying at the moment which means if I want to be paid for these last few weeks (which I do!) I have to switch to Newstart Allowance as I'm over 21 and unemployed.

I spoke to someone at my local office who said I have to participate in an activity agreement (I think thats what she said?), which would involve being a jobseeker (doing some job skills workshop, applying for jobs and going to interviews etc...?). Which sounds a bit ridiculous at 36 weeks!

Was she being serious? Will I have to look for work at 36 weeks pregnant (and no intention of working until bub is 12 months!)? My midwife wrote that letter with my EDD and said that it should be enough for me not to have to do jobseeker stuff... But is it? I don't really know much about the Newstart allowance or anything...

Um, I think you have to look for work up until 36 weeks. BG will be in sometime to clear this one up.
I'm not sure if the midwife letter will be enough, you might have to get a Dr letter. In any case I'd say yeah, yeah I'm looking for work....

I remember being on the front desk at the YAL counter when girls come in proudly waving the Dr confirmation of pregnancy saying "I'm 8 weeks preg so I can't look for work yay!". Ahem, sorry. Actually one girl got really angry with me and told me I was discriminating against her....so I stepped away from the desk and showed her my 36 week belly and begged to differ!

ETA - you will go onto Parenting Payment I think after bubs is born. Will you return to study within 12 months? In any case you will get the single rate as no one recognizes same sex couples HA HA HA HA. Its gotta work in your favour sooner or later......

i was unemployed with preggy and the only have u out looking for work up till a certain stage. i did the job search training (what point is there really, sorry but who wants to employ someone who wont be working there in a few months/weeks) and went on to do work for the dole for a few weeks. (5-6yrs ago mind u) i stopped around 35-36 weeks?

if ur just seeing midwives for youre care i dont see why a letter from them wouldnt be enough!!!

LOL yeah, i'll take the single playment til they recognise Shel!

PMSL at 8 weeks and not having to look for work. I'm not quite that silly. I think it would be amusing though to waddle up to someone and hand my resume in, I could have fun with it! But a huge PITA to do all the other stuff lol so I'd rather not. Got an appointment this week with them so I'll give them a call about the midwife letter, thanks for the heads up, how frustrating it would be to get there and have to make another appointment!

Yeah, Shel and I are hoping for me to go back to uni first semester 2009 (i've taken 6 months on my leave). I'm not worried about the parenting payment or anything like that, thats pretty straight forward, its just between now and the birth.

Do you already have a Dr letter? You need it to state your EDD. Most important for Clink.

I dont think the already overworked staff at the CSC will want to go through the hassle of worrying about a work agreement either.....

:) The letter from my midwife is one of those prewritten date of confinement ones, and she just writes in my name and the EDD and signs it. It has Qld health letter head and all that. I told her it was from Centrelink, so I thought it would be fine, but I'm just waiting for them to call me back and let me know if its all I need :)

I had this happen to me too when i was pregnant with DD. I just got a letter from my GP saying i was unfit to look for work due to the stresses of pregnancy. I was around 20 weeks i think. Before that i was looking for a job and even then it was too hard cause i was visabley pregnant so no one wanted me. So since you are almost due i would say you wouldn't need much at all besides your EDD. And if you do, just get a letter from your GP like i did.

I had the same issue... i never ended up getting a payment at all, it was so much effing around and then by the time i got all the documentation from my old employer as well i had lready had DS and the timeframe had expired. You shouldn't have to particpate because you are past 36 weeks.

Leasha - you can swap from Youth Allowance Student to Youth Allowance Job Seeker - and have an exemption for seeking work based on a "medical condition" - how sad that being pg is a medical condition!!! Midwife letter should be enough - but if not, hassle your GP for a letter with EDD - shouldn't take much effort

anyhoot - you can be exempted from job seeking for 6 weeks before EDD, so you're good to go now!



FWIW - C'link will employ people as new staff no matter how preggers they are, if they are right for the job, give them 3 months unpaid leave (unpaid) to have bubs - with a guaranteed public service job at the end of it!! not too many places would do it, but i'm pretty sure all public service positions would be similar

Not sure if this helps but a friend of mine who used to work for Cent Link as a social worker said that you used to be able to book in and see a SW and that they could help sort through stuff like this for you, he wasn't sure what current policy was as he hasn't worked there for a few years. How ever it goes it does seem a bit out there that they want you looking for work at a time when most employers would be sending you on maternity leave. I hope it all works out ok for you with minimum fuss.

wow what a great thread..i had no idea how much hassle it was going to be for me to get c/link payments after i finish uni this semester & between having bubs in Nov! i plan to go back to uni part time next year, do you think this will impact on c/link & if so how?

Trini -it would be best to call them now and see what they say.

You will be expected to look for work before 36 weeks though.

ditto what Lulu said - though i think it's 34 weeks, not 36 weeks - and only then will you be able to to be exempted with a letter from your are provider stating when your EDD is

Leash sorry i havent read through the entire thread, but i too had to go through jobseeking activities weekly when i was pg as i wasnt working. it was a PITA but i guess it has to be done, pregnant or not!!

i had to go to a job network place and fill out a massive folder.. the supervisor used to work for my mum, and was really lenient and told me to come at least 2 times a week.. rather than daily. thank god!

HI
You will have to change to newstart as youth allowance as a jobseeker has an age limit of the day before you turn 21. All you have to do is go into the office they will give you the paperwork to sign and they will then transfer you to newstart - its really simple takes about 20-30 mins. You will be classed as a jobseeker but with a medical condition preventing you from complying with the activity test. You dont need to look for work for 6 weeks prior to the EDD (34 weeks) and 6 weeks after the birth (thats if you stay on newstart rather then parenting payment - you would be silly if you did not transfer to parenting) You are still required to lodge a SU19 application for payment every 2 weeks or if you are lucky the office will put you on extended reporting and that can be done 4,6,8 and 12 weekkly - you will need to ask about that as the system will have a 2 week default.
Once you have had the baby you will get a form from the midwife fr FTB and you will then pho and claim FTB and then ask to claim PPP or PPS (parenting payment partnered or single) it will all be done at the same time takes about 45 mins on the pho to do both then you need to go to the office for another appt takes about 30 mins and then its done the FTB does take up to 21 days to pay the baby bonus and ftb but is back dated to the day you had the baby.

Jas and Ella

OK... just to clarify things.

U get an exemption from everything with centrelink when u have 6 weeks to go. For eg my exemption starts on the um... somewhere near the 19 sep. If you have a letter from ur midwife stating ur EDD it will go from this date. Im 10000000% sure this is how its works as i was told this last week. Also for more info for ppl u are exempt from looking for work at 6 months pregnant only if u are undertaking study of some sort or have a medical certificate.

HTH