Will I be eligible for the baby bonus?

[LaDeeDa]

Hi All,

Hoping someone will know the answer to this - BG I am definately hoping you will

I realise that as of Jan 1 the baby bonus will be means tested. This makes me nervous because last financial year I grossed $65k and DF grossed $40k. As he has gone back to working for a boss a month ago he should gross about $50k pa now.

How do they work it out? As bub is due in Feb will they take it on what I earn't for the last financial year?
Even though I will be leaving my job in Dec (I get 3 mths paid mat leave but I won't go back)

I hope this makes sense and someone will know - I'm a bit stressed as I am really relying on the fortnightly payments.....

TIA

[briggsy's girl]

it is based on the income predicted for the six months following the birth of your baby - if combined income for six months is less than 75k, you should be fine. based on the numbers you're floating there, you won't have a drama cos you'd have to be looking at 150k combined for 12 months, and you still getting full pay for that first six months

hth

[LaDeeDa]

BG - I don't know what we would all do without you!!!!

*All hail BG*

I was seriously stressing for a min there ....ehhehehehe

[briggsy's girl]

no dramas hun

you'll struggle to get ftb, but you'll be fine with baby bonus

[LaDeeDa]

yeah i realise that
my 3mths paid mat leave wil only be on my base wage though which is $48k (i work in sales)

after the financial year when my mat leaves ends will we be eligible for anything then?

[briggsy's girl]

if you're on no income, DP on his 50-ish, you'll get both ftba and ftbb

[LaDeeDa]

can i be a pain and ask what that works out to?
the website does my head in

[briggsy's girl]

at a guess - if you have NO income at all, you'll get 128 of ftbb (more depending on what the new payments will be in 09/10)

for a fifty k income for ftba purposes, you'll prolly be somewhere around 100 a fortnight, maybe a bit less (i'm too lazy to go on and do a proper estimate)

if you rent, you might be eligible for rent assistance as well

if you want it to be more specific, i'll go through the estimator later (about to go out) - reply in here whether you pay rent and how much - and best case scenario for your partner income wise (so if he got bonuses or maybe a pay rise etc) - if you want to keep it off the boards for privacy reasons, pm me

[LaDeeDa]

Your an angel!
Yep we rent $270pw and absolute best case scenario for dan is about $53k but will most likely be less.

I hope I'm not putting you out.......