Hi, am having a crack at applying for Special Child Care Benefit. Just wondering if anyone knows what sort of criteria they look at when deciding to approve or not...just so I include the relevant info in my application?
Are these things relevant:
Health status/diagnosis
Treatment details (associated fatigue, etc)
Lack of family members who can provide care
Decision to increase DDs' hours of care as a means of coping physically
Do I need to address the question of why I haven't gone back to work (relocating, technically on leave without pay but don't actually have a job in this state) or is that extra info they don't need?
Should I mention that lowered immunity prevents me from attending most activities etc for young children and so that's another reason DD2 is in care the hours she is? Or is that extra info they don't need?
Do I need to provide proof of our current fortnightly spend on child care or is all that in their computers already?
What other info do they need about our financial status - do I mention extra expenses involved with naturopathic treatment, travelling & parking for medical appts, pharmacy expenses, increased food expenses re buying more fresh vegetables than usual? How do we prove we're under financial strain as a result of all this?
Who should I get support letters from? Does a letter from the oncologist count for more than one from the GP? Or should I get one from both?
provide everything you can hun - the more supporting documentation the better it is for you. basically, they will take into account your current situation and will base it on that, so the more they have to base this on, the more likely it is to be passed. the child care centre can also provide additional "support" for your case if needed.
everything you've listed is stuff i would suggest you supply to support you - so you're on the right track. i think a letter from either your GP or oncologist would carry the same weight...
don't include anything about the LWOP situation - it's irrelevant to your current situation and your need for care. i would state that you aren't working and have limited income, but not the reasoning behind why. the assumption would be there that it is related to your illness.
from memory your partner is in the defence force - if he is currently deployed, put in that you have a lack of support due to his employment situation as well...
Get letters from both GP and oncologist.
Definitely include health status, treatment details and associated fatigue, lack of family support, need to increase hours of care. Include lowered immunity, and fortnightly spend on childcare. As for increased costs, absolutely include naturopath, phramacy costs and travel and parking expenses. Increased food costs (although I 100% support you doing it and believe in it wholeheartedly) is perhaps stretching it a bit far.
I wouldn't stress too much about justifying your LWOP situation.
But, look, I've seen quite a few parents get it with less ammo than what you've got, so go for it. Good luck, thinking of you!
Centrelink Q - Special Child Care Benefit?
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