single- what happens re income support from ex

[pippin]

Hi ladies

Could you pls give me some advice. I'm currently single 33 weeks having twins and receiving the newstart allowance. I have been except as my c-section date is 2nd March.

I know that when the babies are born I need to go onto single parent payments. I want to put my Ex on the birth certificate as he is still their father.

What happens when I get single parent payments. Does my Ex have to pay a certain amount to me as support? DO you know roughly how much a week or fortnight I will get for twins on single parent payments?

My ex is currently working and earning about $1400 net.

Centrelink said they will pay me Newstart until April. Should I wait till then to get Parent payment?

Thanks for your info

Pip

[Lulu]

Go to the Clink website and look for the Rate Estimator, put in the details as if the kids have been born and it will let you know your rates.

You will have to call CSA, they may be able to give you en estimate of what he should pay you for the twins.

good luck!

ETA - you will switch over to Parenting Payment as soon as the babies are born.

[briggsy's girl]

Centrelink said they will pay me Newstart until April. Should I wait till then to get Parent payment?

Thanks for your info

Pip

when the babies are born you'll get paperwork to apply for FTB - with that, you have to make a phonecall to give them info as part of the application - you will have to apply for PPs during that call. what they are saying is they'll pay you as late as april (your EDD if you went to 40 weeks) - but as soon as they arrive, you will have to apply

PPS is a bit over 550 a fortnight. as a single person (max rate - asset dependent), FTBB will be around 128 a fortnight, FTBA between 48 and 150 per baby per fortnight depending on child support. you may also get rent assistance

go to centrelink website - Centrelink - select online services on left hand side, scroll down to online estimators - it will go through and give you the option to estimate child support as well as your entitlement from c'link.

[pippin]

Hi ladies

thanks so much for your info especially BG

Just one more quick question and it may be a silly one After doing the estimator on the Centre link page my main question is

If my ex earns 2000gross and 1400 net won't that be too much to claim anything from centrelink?????? He won't have my children most of the time as they are newborns and I will probably be breastfeeding so I will have the children for 6 out of 7 nights a week.

thanks

Pip

[briggsy's girl]

hi income will mean nothing on YOUR claim as only your finances will be taken into account. his income will only be taken into account for child support purposes

[AliBaby]

In regards to child support, a friend who is a family court solicitor said you should get 30% of your husbands income (not sure if that is per child??) Will have to check with her.

Hopefully he wont be like a lot of deadbeat dads who dont pay up. I know my dad didnt or was always late paying my mum and my dad also hid alot of income in the sharemarket under other names (as he was a stockbroker).

[briggsy's girl]

the number of 30% is something of a fuprhy (sorry!) - it's based on his income, what percentage of time he has the kids etc. the number that was floated around a while ago was 18% - i don't know what the true level is - but it's best to not fixate on one number as they are DRASTICALLY different...

[AliBaby]

Sorry BG you are right its 18% for one child and 27% for 2 children.

Here is a link to the Australian Government child support agency with some useful information on wroking out approx how much you would get.
The previous scheme Guide: 2.4.1: The basic formula - CSA Australia

Note that this scheme was effective until June 30th last year. You will have to check for changes but it will be good at getting an approximate.

Edit- Just found the current guide for you. See below
http://www.csa.gov.au/guidev2/TheGui...x?Content=Home

[Visitor8]

also be aware that if you want him on the birth certificate, he must sign it. I just went through lawyers and DNA testing because Ashtons father refused to sign the birth registration. If the father refuses then you will need to go to a lawyer and DNA testing will be issued if he agrees, if he doesn't a court order will be made up. It is 5 months on and I haven't seen a cent of Child Support yet but will soon.

Child support depends on lots of things. His LAST tax return, how many NIGHTS he has the kids (not days but overnight stays). My XP has the boys 2 nights a fortnight which has reduced his Child Support, but not enough to effect my FTB payment.

Good luck.

[pippin]

Once again thankyou ladies for all your info and how quickly the response has been this is a fantastic forum

cheers Pip