Centrelink Assistance and Austudy

[Kitt3n]

Hi all, (well probably BG!! - this should have been called the "BG Q&A thread )

I have been sitting down trying to figure out returning to work, not returning to work, selling unit, buying house to do FDC, and or selling unit to buy a cheaper unit etc etc (its just such a whirl wind!!)

So ifi dont return to work next fin year, from DF's earning we will be entitled to roughly $290 FTB a f/n (going by a laymnas use of the clink calcs on the web).

I also had a look at the austudy assistance - my question is, if i did not return to work, and in turn went into full time study next fin year, would i be eligible for FTB and Austudy? Or is it one or the other?

If i could get some form of both i think it would be beneficial to finish uni then return to work after that - just not sure of the assistance we could get??

Thanks for any input and or other ideas of juggling things!!

[Lulu]

Is there an Austudy calculator thingy on the website too? I imagine it may be dependent on your DH's wage.

[Kitt3n]

Yes there is - as part of the FTB calc - i tried to do it but it only came back with FTB, not sure if i did it correctly or if the FTB rules out the austudy.

I figure i have never been on benefits (austudy etc) and was only on the full single parenting payments for 6 months after splitting from x, and i highly doubt that the age pension will be around by the time we come to retire, so if i can make use of assistance in order to be better "self funded" in the future I might aswell make a go of it!

[Lulu]

It may not have had a figure as you aren't entitled.

It would be nice if it clarified it though. I know how hard it is to get through on the phones right now to get some sort of idea..

[Lulu]

Ok, if your DH earns more than $899 per fortnight you wont be entitled, there is an eligibility calculator on there under Austudy.

[Kitt3n]

ah thanks Lulu!.... bugger!!!!

Oh well looks like im stuck with living without the education I have always dreamed of and will have to do FDC.

Crap, i really dont want to do FDC.

[Lulu]

You can still have a go - maybe do it one unit at a time or something?

[Kitt3n]

Thank Lulu i tried - when i left x I went into full time work and started up uni via correspondence.

by the time i got round to even starting to think about my books it was 9:30pm and my brain ws shutting down, not starting up for study! I just couldn't do it. Cant imagine doing it now with a 7 year old and another baby on the way.

I hated myself so much for quitting, there were many many tears and i know ill just let myself down again if i only take it on part time.

Thanks anyway xx

[Lulu]

Oh I hear ya! I did the same too, it was sooo bloody hard.

I'd be qualified by now....

Eeer yuck FDC. Why don't you try nightfill - you dont have to worry about CC costs?

[Kitt3n]

Yeah true Lulu, i might look into that - so many options, never enough money! lol.

Might work out to have more money in my pocket as a checkout chick rather than my current role and paying child care! Its so crazy.

Anyone else have any ideas for evening roles? I can afford to have a full 6 months off work but then i need some form of income - so from around July next year.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

kitt3n- may i ask how old you are???

My DP earns more than $899 a fortnight and i still get money...

[Kitt3n]

sure hollye - i am 26 (27 on monday arrgghh!!) and he is 31. Do you think that would make a difference?

Just one or two hundred more dollars a fortnight and i dont think it would be worth going back to work full time until at least the end of next fin year! (09/10 i mean)

[[M]umma[M]ia]

im not too sure but unless ur DP is earning millions u will still get some sort of money. ur best bet is to give them a call and inquire. u dont have to tell them who u are or anything, just ask them what ur options would be.

[Kitt3n]

unless ur DP is earning millions

lol now wouldnt that be nice! no he isnt.

Yeah i will call and see what they say, thanks guys.

[briggsy's girl]

Kitten - i've only just stumbled across this one sorry hun! esp seeing i was mentioned in the opening post! oopsie!

just thought i'd clarify - the numbers Lulu floated are kinda right - if YOU earn $899, you'll get no Austudy, but if you have NO other income, it's only your partners income ABOVE that level that impacts you (it's a bit complex) - essentially, if you have no income at all (i'm assuming here, so don't shoot me!), basically the first 900 your partner earns doesn't impact you at all - anything over that, and his income reduces your payment by 60c in the dollar - so yes, he can earn more than that (but i can see how lulu got the info confuzzled - the website isn't exactly black and white!) - from what i can work out in my head (cos i can't be bothered looking up exact numbers), if your partners income is between 900 and around 1400 (and as i say, i'm guessing), you'd get a part payment - correct that, i just guesstimated partner income at 1400 for Austudy (nil for you) and got all of 80c per fortnight of Austudy! looks like the thresholds are very similar to those for parenting payment partnered

there is also an assetts test, so if you have a lot of "stuff" apart from your principle home, it might impact you.


if i were you, i would go to the site and run a centrelink RATE estimator - only do the rate estimator, not the families one. that will tell you, based on your partners pre-tax income each fortnight


FWIW - if you're on income support (even getting only a few dollars of Austudy a fortnight), you'll automatically get max rate FTBA (about 150 per kidlet per fortnight) max rate rent assistance, max rate ccb. you might lose a small amount of ftbb as you will have a taxable income - but if you're only getting a few dollars a fortnight, you won't hit the threshold for reducing your ftbb very easily

[DoubleK]

Hi Kitten.. just had a quick squiz through this thread.. regarding evening work.. i have just started working again since having Krystal.. i work in a take-away shop, just a small business.. not maccas or anything. i get paid $15 an hour, and do wed, thurs, fri nigths 5-9pm. its not hard work(being on your feet does take it out of you) the hours are short, and its a bit extra money. dp & Krystal do their own dinner on those nights, and i eat after work.

its worked out really well for us, im happy i found this job, rather than a job in a clothes shop at a shopping centre.. which is what i WAS originally looing for. maybe some work like that could help out with some extra $$$. i never even thought iof working in a take away shop, but its actually really fun, and i enjoy going to work. also living in a small town.. ive got to know a lot of local people.. which means my quic trips to teh supermarket take a little longer as i have to keep stopping to chat to people!
(also,i let them know im available to cover for someone who is sick, or perhaps for a few hours on the weekend if they need some dishes washed or something like that..)

[orlandostar]

I've just come across this post after doing some research myself about my DH going back to full time work or study..It seems if his studying and works a bit earning 900 a fortnight my part-parenting and Family tax A/B would be 686 so basically full rate...if his on newstart it would be 591, which is nearly a hundred less and if he was claiming nothing it would be 606..go figure how they work all this out...We are living oversea at the moment and are coming home as i'm pregnant with our second and are madly trying to workout how we can afford the mortgage. As I can't go back to work yet..Which was the orginal plan.Anyway go checkout the centrelink estimator...It takes a while but give you some information their not that keen to tell you...hope that helps and goodluck with the study, my DH pretty keen to finish his degree as well..