Im interested in hearing this one too! Not that it will effect me (govt paid mat leave)
Dont feel bad or feel like you are 'money hungry' we are the same in that i have no idea how we will go financially when i stop work, DPs wage covers rent & bills just need to figure out the rest hehe.
I hear ya on the impatient to start, we have to wait as well, not for the paid parental leave scheme to kick in, but for me to finish my contract at work so I can get my permenancy. It just so happens for me the 2 coincide. I know the exact date that we can start TTC
'Realistically there is going to be very little difference between the two payments once everything is taken into account.
The differences will be that the maternity leave payments will count as income for every purpose so you will pay tax on them and they will be counted when calculating all the Centrelink benefits like FTB Parts A and B. The Baby Bonus (or Maternity allowance or whatever it is called these days) doesn't get counted towads any of these things.
It is really just a nice way for Uncle Kev to make some headlines and feel good without actually costing the governtment any real money.
Last edited by Muppity; January 18th, 2010 at 03:34 PM.
i think it will come down to when in the financial year you have your baby - if oyu have it early in the financial year, you're bette off going baby bonus as you'll get the higher level of ftbb for longer (as you'll have minimal income to reduce it) - if you have it late in the financial, you'll already have income, so ftbb will be reduced already, so you may be better off with the PPL. if we have another kidlet, i will have to seriously consider, based on EDD, what option is better for us. when DD was born last year) we would have been significantly better off the way we were (baby bonus) rather than PPL as i am getting max rate ftbb until i return to work...
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