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Ok the highly organised one in me needs to know what I need to:
I am the main income earner for the family as DH's business is running at a loss for the past fin year and will do for the next 6 months or so until some new contracts come in. I have not been on payments since I was 21 and have no idea where to start. :doh:
- What info do I need?
- Can I apply before she arrives?
- Is there any questions I should ask?
Thanks in Advance
Hi darl,
As far as I can tell you mean 'apply' as in apply for benefits?
The hospital should give you all the Centrelink forms just after you've given birth, you can't apply for payments before bubs is born.
If you want to try work out what youe elegible for and how much, the centrelink website has a calculator thingy where you can put in info (it asks for babys birthdate, I just put in 1.1.09 cause it wanted a date that's already passed, as if the baby is already born), and your estimated income etc and it'll work it all out.
Im not sure about sole trader/own business type stuff but try calling or going into centrelink, they can be a pain to get thru to but at least it'll give you an idea of what you could possibly benefit from. Hope this helps :)
Thanks :) for that this is really confusing for me :rolleyes: Think DH and I will take a centerlink visit just after bubs is born
Hey Linda, it's not as confusing as you think
Have a look on the centrelink website. It is laid out really well and almost everything has been explained in easy to understand terms.
There is an online estimator which is very simple to use. You put in your birth dates, babys birth date (just put todays date), your incomes, whether you rent or not, and a few other foreign income questions.
They will then tell you how much PPP (parenting payment partnered) and how much FTB (family tax benefit) you will be entitled to. It will also tell you if your DH will receive any PPP as well. (WHich I think he should considering he is running at a loss)
If you are not currently working, you may be entitled to another payment before the bubs arrives. That would most likely be NEw Start Allowance in your case. This was formally known as the dole.
They may insist that you apply for jobs in this time, but I think the need for applying ceases at approx 34 weeks gestation.
HTH a little bit.
Hopefully BG will have some time over the next few days to give you some more info.
first bit of advice i can give you is DON'T go to the office looking for help - they will tell you to call
if you're taking unpaid mat leave, you're eligible for newstart allowance before the baby is born and you can then transfer to parenting partnered when baby arrives. essentially what you will need to provide is:
- letter from your doctor with EDD - if you take mat leave from 34weeks, you will have no job search requirements - anything before that, you may be required to look for work unless you provide a med cert
- given your DH is self employed, you will need to provide the last financial years FULL income tax return to be assessed by a complex assessment officer. if your partner hasn't been running his business for a full financial year, you'll have to provide the ITR, as well as an estimated profit and loss for the coming three months. at the end of that three months, you'll have to provide ACTUAL profit and loss for the past three months, and estimate for next three. then actual for past six, estiamte for next three etc until business has been up and running long enough to have a full financial year ITR.
- if last fin years ITR isn't representative of current circs (much higer or lower income), you can do the P/L thing to make sure it's accurate
- if you are going to be on paid mat leave, Newstart won't come into it at all. you will have to apply for parenting partnered when your leave expires
- same deal for parenting payment where your partners income is required to be proven
- for the parenting payment, if your partner is under about $700 a fornight, you'll get full payment for you (around $400 ball park) - if he goes over that, it starts to taper down - if his income is under $1400 a fortnight you'll receive a part payment
- for FTB - if you qualify for parenting payment, you'll get maximum FTBA. you'll have to work out your fortnightly parenting payment entitlement, add it to your income and work out FTBB - you will likely NOT get any FTBB this year, but may qulaify next financial year.
for more help, please RING FAO on 136150 - when you have a phone consultant, you have them for as long as you need them - they can discuss it all with you (self employment, residence stuff - the whole lot) - if you go into the office, they don't have the staff to devote to helping you and you will either get minimal help, referral to the website, or told to call anyway!
Thanks Heaps BG and Mabello I will make the call and get the letter from the OB for my upaid leave at the next visit.
Thanks heaps again coming from a full on career girl i got a bit confused
Hey Bg, u seem to be a wealth of knowlege lol...
My situation is I have been working part time for a company but have been there less than a yr so don't get mat leave, im planning on leaving at 35 weeks and was going to live off savings til bubs arrives, dp doesn't make much (less than 40k a yr), would I prob qualify for newstart?
Tm - ring Clink tomorrow. Under 40k you may qualify but it is dependent on so many factors (investments, payouts, assets etc) that you can only really know when you go right through it.
The changes that have come in the last few years do make the process of applying alot easier. If you call they can test your eligibility right over the phone and even do most of the claim right then and there. You only have to attend the office to lodge your paperwork, ID etc and its done.
when you call, have the tv remote and a cup of tea ready. Also have as much of your financial papers at hand (bank statements, shares etc), and it will be a smooth process. It doesn't matter if you don't have it all right there as you can advise CL of the actual info later.
good luck!
yup - what lulu said
the amount of your savings will also be taken into account. the income limits for newstart are woefully low (you and your partner have to have income under about $800 per fortnight - if you go over that, you get nothing) - parenting payment is much more realistic...
Oh k, dp just got put from casual to full time a couple weeks ago but yeah gets about 700 gross a week. I've only saved about 400 to pay bills etc between when I leave at 35 weeks and when parenting payments kick in, I did an online estimate a few weeks ago and worked out we will get a little bit of parenting payment partnered, max amounts of FTB A and B, and rent assist. Dp and I never have anything in bank a/c after bills so the 400 in the seperate savings for the baby is all we have as 'savings' that don't go to bills rent food etc.
We don't own our house, our only assets are a 3k car, so hopefully we qualify for something?!
We don't hav a home fone so think ill go to my oldies with all the paperwork and ring from there :)
Oh k, dp just got put from casual to full time a couple weeks ago but yeah gets about 700 gross a week. I've only saved about 400 to pay bills etc between when I leave at 35 weeks and when parenting payments kick in, I did an online estimate a few weeks ago and worked out we will get a little bit of parenting payment partnered, max amounts of FTB A and B, and rent assist. Dp and I never have anything in bank a/c after bills so the 400 in the seperate savings for the baby is all we have as 'savings' that don't go to bills rent food etc.
We don't own our house, our only assets are a 3k car, so hopefully we qualify for something?!
We don't hav a home fone so think ill go to my oldies with all the paperwork and ring from there :)
the guide mark for Newstart is around 800 per fortnight so your partner will be well over sorry hun
Damn! Even just to claim from when im 35 weeks up to delivery? That really sucks! Lucky I have a bit saved up for that transition period then!
Can't complain really, once bubs arrives looks like we will be gettin at least 500 a fortnite in payments, which is only a bit less than what im making atm doing 20 hrs a week :)
yup - same criteria no matter how far along - you have to be on newstart until bubba arrives and the income limits are rather low on that one