Can anyone please tell me what payments they receive from Centrelink once their child turns 8? I'm a single mum with full parental custody of my child, who just recently turned 8. I know that i go from a parenting payment single to job keeper but i'm wondering (hoping) that i will still get family tax benefit. Can anyone shed some light?
I should also add that i work part time (so i'm not a "bludger") but am filled with anxiety about this payment switch as i was already living week to week. My ex pays about $13/mth in child support. After spending over an hour on the phone with Centrelink this afternoon (there was a range of issues on their end with my reporting), i'm still in the dark about exactly how much my payment will be (& will likely not know until the new year) & couldn't get answers to my above questions. How am i supposed to pay rent, my bills, food for christmas when i have no idea how much money i have? So please mummas, what has been your experience in a similar situation?
4 Replies
You will still get FTB. The amount will depend on your annual income, as it always has, and whether you claim fortnightly or at the end of the financial year. Your online account should be showing what you will getting on your next payment day, particularly if your child has already turned 8.
I was quite worried about this as well, but you still get ftb and rent assistance, so its just the difference between parenting payment and jobkeeper, so a bit less but not too drastic.
I'm not on it yet but that's my understanding.
You receive ftb until the child turns 18 (unless independent before then). You are entitled to rent assistance if you receive ftb. Your rate of ftb will be dependent on how much you earn (the threshold is pretty high, and because you already work/report I doubt ftb or ra rate would change). Normally ftb and rent assistance should just continue as normal regardless of the change from pps to js, but because you have mentioned a stuff up in reporting on their end I'm unsure if the normal continuation of those payments will apply 🤷♀️ you are entitled to these payments and you will receive them (and be backdated), just not sure when. I would suggest calling your real estate and other bill providers and make them aware of your situation, even if just for peace of mind for yourself
Good luck xxx
And just to add, like someone else mentioned, check your centrelink online account. I usually find out from that before I'm actually notified (sometimes up to a week before)