Family Assistance

[Leigh]

Has anyone gotten their election bribe money yet ( the $600 per child )
I didn't realise we were getting it last year, and twice at that so didn't really worry about it. I already have it spent this year LOL and waiting waiting waiting.

[Manda]

i got mine a few weeeks ago, they wait til they get yours and partners tax details before they can do the reconsiliation. if you have already recieved tax assesment then i would give c/link a call.

[duckdowne]

I didn't realise that was an ongoing thing. Is that the case? BONUS!! I had the impression that last year was a "once off" but I can tell you it's things like this I'm hapy to be wrong about!! :aussie: :aussie: Three cheers for our welfare system!! (LOL)

Is it income tested or a straight payment? Does anyone know?

[Leigh]

Yes, it's an on going thing, though we only get it once this year...shame that LOL I think there is an extra $150 this year?

I thought it was to do with tax. My mum put her tax in, and got her payment a week later. We did our tax over a month ago, so who knows? I am not overly concerned. Just looking forward to what I had planed for it.

It's hard to keep up with all the money they hand out. I am sure we don't claim half of what you can, I don't know about most of them and I think we get plenty as it is LOL

[shelli]

I got it last year, and yet to do our tax for this year.....gotta make that appointment, me thinks!! As far as I know, if you have a debt with Centrelink, then that debt is paid out of the money that you are sposed to get. That is why they wait for you to do your tax - income. They also wait for your partner's tax, or your ex-partner's tax to be done, too, as this may have an effect on your payment for the year - child support being the wrong amount, etc.

I thought that the payment last year was a once-off, too!!

shelli

[Naomi]

Is this only for children who didn't get the $3000 maternity payment or whatever they call that? Or is it FTB something? I don't actually know if we are eligible for anything ... definitely not FTB A as S earns too much but now I am not going back to work we might be eligible for FTB B ... the thing is, the C/link website seems to be deliberately obstructive. I mean, I am not stupid, I have a tertiary degree and I still find it a PITA trying to work that website out. And after my experiences as a student, I am not even going to bother going in to a c/link office or call their help line.

[Leigh]

The family assistance site might be more helpful for you Naomi. http://www.familyassist.gov.au/ It's so bloody confusing isn't it. There is also that other baby bonus, someone said I should claim for Katelyn. But do you think I can find out who, where, and what for? LOL

I think you only have to be getting part B to be eligible for this payment. They have a calculator in their online services section, you don't need to log in and it can tell you how much you may be entitled to.

Shelli, I think they should owe me more for that as well. I was worried about being over payed, so I over estimated our income by about $4000 I think.

How sad am I getting so excited over buying kids bedroom furniture LOLOL

[mel35]

I recieved mine as my tax refund.

Sorry to disappoint you Leigh but you don't get an extra $150-00 although it is slightly more than $600-00 per child.

If you owe any money to centrelink that will be deducted from the payment including overpayments from previous years ( which they didn't deduct last year - probably for political reasons :roll: )

[Leigh]

I gave them a call today, felt bad ringing them, like I was some kind of scab :blush: Seems I had to ring them, to let them know I wasn't lodging a return ( so I would have been waiting a lot longer for it to just appear LOL)

I got a nice little surprise tho, as I had over estimated a little, they owed me...a lot. The lady on the phone was laughing at me, I must have gotten a little excited :blush: LMAO

[Julia]

I spoke to my accountant yesterday & even he doesn't know what I'm entitled to. I have to put in my tax & then phone centerlink.

I know I get the $42 per fortnight childcare thingo (I claim it in one lump sum, as it's nice to get a bonus). But I don't know what else I'm entitled to receive.

Leigh: I think we discussed this on msn a couple of months ago. When Holly was born I received $800.00 for her. I think you said you didn't put in a claim for Katelyn? When you had her you should have been given a form from the hospital verifying her birth & signed by a midwife or doctor. You have to fill out the rest of the form (hope you have a LOT of spare time as it's such a stupidly long form), and then they give you your moolah.

I was also under the impression that if your baby was born prior to 1st July 2004 you got a payment for your child for 5 years.

Don't quote me on anything I've said though.

I'm so confused. My head hurts.

Anyway, nice to hear you're getting some money back. I had a curtain lady out today, that's what my booty is going on. Andy reckons I should buy him a bike...yeah, right!!!

[Mimi]

So do we get it as part of our tax refund? I remember last September we got 600 per child, after I got my tax return (I think). I know I got around 600 bux as part of my tax return this year, which was the family tax benefit part A supplement. Was that it then? Im so confused.... :dk:

[Leigh]

Maybe the $600 in your return was back pay they owed you?
Most people I have spoken to, have gotten their payments a few weeks after they lodge their return. If you haven't got it, no harm in ringing up to clear up what money is where :)

[debambam]

I seriously have no idea about this. I have only just reapplied for any payments at all from FAO. I've not been in the system for 2 years so it looks like I missed out hey! Wonder if i'll get it for this year?

[Jewly]

I think the reason that this payment was brought in, was to try and illiminate people having a debt at the end of the year for under-estimating their income, because it was happening too much.

I also heard that we were getting an extra $150 this year, and when I got my tax return back, it did work out that I got the $750 but I didn't see it this year, because my son's father had paid a lot of lumpsums of child support during the year, to clear his $3,000 debt and it caused me to have a $800 + debt to Centrelink. When I sat down with my tax assessment notice, it worked out, that they had taken $750 plus a bit more out of my refund to cover the debt.