does anyone know what we would be entitled to?

Hi All,

After much soul searching DF has decided to give up on being self employed and go back to his old job.

Don't get me wrong the money is great when your a self employed tradesman but it's nowhere near consistent and with the economy, interest rates etc noone is spending money on things like fences, decks and pergolas.

so my question is this:- in his new job he should gross somewhere between 40-50k. i'm getting maternity leave 3months full or 6 months half pay on about $60k prorated.

does anyone have any idea what that would entitle us to from centrelink both during my maternity leave and afterwards??

If anyone has any idea I would really appreciate it. I'm feeling pretty stressed about how we are going to manage as if he does overtime and a saturday it'll leave us with like an extra 50 bucks per week....... and i really wanted to try and be a SAHM.....

Any ideas or advice would be wonderful ... thanks everyone

the absolute best thing to do, rather than "guesstimate on here" is to go to centrelink.gov.au

on the left hand side, top option is ONLINE SERVICES

when you've selected that one, got almost to the bottomr of the online services page and you'll see an estimator - choose that, and opt to estimate family assistance rates only

you'll be able to enter your income (partner - always over estimate so if he's 45-50, est 50k so you don't get over paid), put in your income pro rated down (so 60k paid for three months would be about 15k) - put in DOB for baby as today when it asks (otherwise it won't work it out)



given you're 22weeks pg, i'd think you'd have almost 6months of work in there so 30k for you full time, plus your 3 months part time, so almost 45k. partners income at 50 you'd be looking at about 48 a fortnight (at a maximum, i'd be thinking less), but the estimator will help you out with that

if you go on the centrelink website (Centrelink Home Page) go to the 'online services' heading, on that page there is a Rate Estimator you can enter in info about your current or proposed circumstances and it will calculate an estimate of your possible entitlements. You dont need to log in to use it, and it doesnt save your info . You'll be able to get the family tax benefit, and when you return to work for the first time after you get an exempt period which will give you more money.
Based on your DF's salary with you not working you'd probably get about $300 per fornight if that, and prob could get anothr $15pf from parenting payment partnered.. but do the estimate thing (its the same ting c'links people use when you ask them for an estimate)

And maybe do a little rebudgeting,
It can be done, ive got baby #3 on the way and DP's income is less than $40,000 - ive done alot of re-budgeting/financing and we're getting by so dont stress too much! we dont want you going into early labour from stress

hey briggsysgirl - i worked it out
with my maternity leave which is 3months but I am going to have the option of it being paid out over 6months at half pay I should be entitled to $190 per fortnight

thanks for letting me know about the calculator ....

ohmygodi'mamum - thanks so much!
to be honest i am really scared.... after being on dual incomes for so long I am not sure how we are going to do it...

any tips you might have would be greatly appreciated

make sure you check with your employer as you have to take into account everything paid in the 08/09 financial year - given you'll have 6 months full pay, 6 months half, on pro rata of 60k, i can guarantee you won't get 190 this financial year - you might get that much at the start of the new financial year, but if you do 6 months full pay, 30k earned. then 6 months half pay, another 15k

add your 45k to dh's 50k, you won't get 190 a fortnight. i can 1000% guarantee it!!!! . you have to include EVERYTHING you've earned in this financial year! your incomes are both too high for ftbb, ftba is max 151 per fortnight, and you'll get base rate at best 48.30 a fortnight.

oh ok then..... thanks heaps for that
I am still trying to get my head around it all.

i think i might just work from the start of the financial year where i won't be earning anything.....
that might be the easiest way

based on your incomes this year, you'll probably be on minimal if any til july 1 - from then, i'd do the estimate on you nil, your partner 50 - BUT, if you're likely to go back to work, incorporate your income into partners or you will end up with ftba overpayment.

when you return to work, lower dh's income estimate and put that income against yourself - it's complex but it works i promise!

lol i don't think they could make this anymore complicated if they tried.....

i really want to try and stay home as i work in the city and it takes me 1 hour plus to get to work each day and then back again....

if i wanted to give up my corporate job and do a few hours at safeway etc how much can i earn before my payments are affected?

thanks so much for your help briggsysgirl

ftba is impacted by every dollar of your combined income over about 42.5k

ftbb is max rate until you (as lower income earner) is around 4.5k