Centrelink

Karen
Why not ask Centrelink. I have always found them very helpful.

teege

Which payment are you refering to?

Hi Karen,
We have 2 primary school aged children and before we left to travel around Australia we went into Centrelink and told them what we were doing and what (if any) payments we would be entitled to.
They actually tried signing us up for unemployment benefits which we said no to - but we are entitled to FTB part A and B. Although the amount does vary depending on income, so when we stop to work we just let them know and they adjust our payment accordingly.

Hope your plans are coming along nicely. Good luck

It astounds me that my hard earned taxes get re-distributed to some one to help them raise there kid, and to top it off while there travelling around Australia.

I can't afford to travel around Australia, and I don't get 5 cents from the government to help me raise my kids. So why the hell you I help you raise yours?

It's a joke.

I see so many people on news sites angry about what families get (I see it is at the what about me syndrome).....I think what people need to remember is that KIDS ARE AUSSIES TOO and all kids are supported by parents and gov when they are young and we then expect them to work and pay taxes to help support the next generation and the retired generation.....we are after all, not just an economy we are a society.

I claim benefits for my kids and I only work one day a week at present, I'm about to go back to uni part time so that I can get a job I will enjoy (and a better paid one but that's a side benefit for me) when the kids are older. I don't complain about the HECS bill I will have, I got the education so I don't mind contributing to it.

There is no reason why you couldn't get FTB whilst travelling, the rates are set depending on earnings not residence. It may help if you sign up to use the online system and within that to receive mail online because that will be much easier for you whilst travelling.

The most disfuncital government department is...."CENTRELINK"...other than the PRIME MINESTERS OFFICE, ..IE if you fill out a form....Copy it so you have some evidence you have done it...as further down the track they will come back to you with another "form" and if you get it wrong,you could pay for it,
I was given a large sum of money from an insurance company, so i informed centerlink about it...they tried to cut my pension because of the amount i received,...the person who was doing the paper work got it wrong...as the money i received was for "pain and suffering",and when i pointed that out to centerlink, they left my pension alone,because their is a section of the Social security act that covers "PAIN and SUFFERING
We are not here to rip the system "OFF" as some people do,a lot of people have worked all their life and are on the aged pension,service pension,veterans affairs pension,or what ever pension they happen to be on,some people for reasons only known to them self, wont go near Centerlink,
Centerlink wont tell you what you are entitled to claim for...YOU need to ask them, what you are entitled to,and every person is different, from the other person, when you put in a claim, you repeat the same answers every time and supply the same document's, Centerlink is always cross checking your answers from before.
I know of a person who gets a payment for living on his boat,which he is paying wharf fees,to tie up on, he has two children,and is on a pension.
So every one is different,and if we don't know their situation is ,it's best to stay out of it and leave them alone.

Cheers for now...WilliamH...Bunbury...WA.

WOW I thought I may open up a can of worms!!

Just to let those of you know who think I am having a "holiday" around Australia on Centrelink then you couldn't be further from the truth. We are selling our house and using our life savings to do this trip as well as working, something that a lot of "bludgers" wouldn't be able to do......

Just something to bear in mind for those of you who have such narrow minds and don't understand why we would still get FTB. I took my son's to the doctors yesterday, after paying $85 for prescriptions I have now got to pay a further $185 consultant fee....now I accept that I would have to pay this for myself but why should we have to pay for our kids, the same with the Dentist it cost about $50 just for a check up, then maybe $100+ for fillings etc.......so when you add this up over a year the FTB payment doesn't even come close! If we didn't have to pay for our kids for things that should be free then I would agree, but sadly we do.

A big thank you to those who answered my question you have all been a great help and I'm sorry that this has upset a lot of people!

Karen

Its certainly true that there are many entitlements for families, pensioners, disabled etc etc, its part of our Oz society and I (having a fairly large family) have availed ourselves of it as and when entitled/needed.

BUT, contrary to the way it has been spelt out by some above who may feel a little guilty about receiving their cut-I cant say I have EVER had Centrelink "make" us accept a payment, or "do it for us without asking" or however its worded. Our experience is a multipage application of some sort.

Take it if you are entitled to it, but it would be better not to try and justify it in that way.

If you have to ask US then I would wonder if you feel justified in your own mind about receiving it.

I agree with Fisho's response. I stopped reading about half way through as I feel so downheartened. We got ZIP. And I was only in the Army as an NCO also. My wife did not work. Three boys. You lot get so much these days it makes me sick. I know I am going to cop it but I don't give a rats.

On holiday for months and . . . . . . . . If you cannot afford it don't do it. Don't expect me to pay.

Phil

After reading most of this thread, I going to ad Cetrelink benefits to the list of non discussion points along side religion and children.

It certainly brings out the passion in people.

Patrick

Aussie kids or imported kids We are copying the sociatistic habits of England and Europe and also their greedy wayd.

You have them you pay for them. We did. No two cars. No colour TV (not until the boys finished school). No holidays. No HONEYMOON either. NO BEER IN THE FRIDGE for years. THATS NOT A LIE EITHER. No ensuite. Just an old 18 year old holden. Then a cheap ford. No restaurants. Christmas presents - home made.

There are too many younger families > 40 years old who expect the government (US) to pay for their luxury. Yes a plasma is a luxury. What about all the rips to bali when you are receiving child minding.

I think I better stay away from this thread it boils my blood that we have so amny that say "I am entitled to it" and write off the bludging title that way. And NO our sons do not accept these funds. They work up to 16 hours a day and get a good income to pay their own way.Which post said that they still have to buy the kids clothes!!!! And who was talking about remote shchooling allowance. Yep

Thats what you get for having kids. And LOVING them.

I STARTED THIS SO LET ME FINISH IT.......

I HAVE SPOKEN TO CENTRELINK AND THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID.....AT THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR WE WILL HAVE TO PUT OUR TAX RETURN IN (WHICH IS LAW) UNLESS WE HAVE EARN'T OVER $130,000 THEN WE WILL AUTOMATCIALY RECEIVE A PAYMENT BACK IN MY BANK ACCOUNT - IF I WANT IT OR NOT - FOR FAMILY TAX BENEFIT -

So there you go, you've all got hot under the collar for something no one can do anything about, even if i said I don't want it, they would still give it to me.....I am spending my money in town's that will need my money, in holiday parks that will need my money, in shops that will need my money and when I say my money I MEAN MY BLOODY MONEY - MONEY I HAVE WORKED HARD FOR AND SAVED, YES SAVED NOT FROM CENTRELINK.

This thread is being locked now.

Regards Modsquad