Hi sisters, I am a high income earning female and have just found out we are pregnant with our first child due later in the year. My employer does not pay a cent in maternity leave - just my job is held open for 12 months.
My husband earns ok money but earns significantly less. We will barely be able to afford to pay the home loan, car loan etc, baby costs when I have time off with bub.
I want to be able to enjoy the time off with my new baby and not be forced to rush back to work in a matter of months.
My question is - are there any government subsidies or payments available to me earning what I do? I understand everything is means tested so I want get any government support - is this correct? Is there any support for people like me once I have the baby?
Paying around 50cents tax in every dollar, I was really hoping the paid maternity leave policy for high income earning women that the liberal government promised would come through - but albeit it was canned.
It all seems impossible with no government support for people like me. We also have zero family around, so no one to help with free baby sitting ever.
7 Replies
Contact centrelink as the info you receive here will not be accurate to your circumstances. Also look at refinancing your mortgage, or living off one income now. Think about how long you want to stay home for and which of you is most suited to stay home. A number of my friends hubbies stayed home with the baby as there income was the lowest abs easiest to go without. Otherwise sell up, but something cheaper. It's about what your priorities are, you can stay home but like everyone low in comers, high in comers it requires a compromise
You will be eligible for paid parental leave unless you earn over $150,000 a year I think. I was eligible and was on a high income 120k a year but it may have gone down the eligibility amount this was 2012, I used to get $1200 a fortnight and some family tax benefit for 4.5 months then returned when bub was 6 months part time and put him into family daycare. Just contact Centrelink and find out if you are eligible. My hubby doesn't earn heaps either but it's amazing how you find a way to get through! All the best
Is that 1200 before tax... I am in the same boat...!!! Thats a huge amount wow
I don't believe the current paid parental leave scheme is means tested. Maybe you might have to see if you can put aside some money to help cover this time.
My advice would be to call Centrelink and explain your situation to them and they will put all your estimates in to their system and tell you what you would be entitled to. Congrats on your pregnancy :-)
It's women like YOU that DESERVE government assistance, women that have been working hard for what they have not bludgers popping out kid after kid for more money. Good luck I really hope you get the assistance you deserve
I couldn't read the responses on the Facebook any longer....women make me so mad with their judgemental, jealous crap!! So I will comment here.... I worked for Centrelink for 16 years, and although I left approx 5 years ago, I have a 2 year old so I'm kind of familiar with it all still! Family tax benefit is based on an estimate of your income for the current financial year so it will all depend on when you actually go on leave and how much you've early up until that point. I'm not 100% sure about the paid parental leave's income test but it is only for 18 weeks from when the baby is born and is around $1200 per fortnight. Depending on your partners income, you may be entitled to parenting payment which is based on actual income earnt each fortnight. Even if you only get $1 of the parenting payment, you are then entitled to full family tax benefit plus health care card so it can be worth the hassle up front. I would suggest your best bet is to talk to Centrelink yourself and check your entitlements. I can guarantee that you will not get anywhere near your current income. Human services website also has a really good calculator where you can play with different figures (ie what your income is if you go back to work after 6 months or 12 months etc) and it will give you a fairly good estimate of your entitlements. You can also register for Centrelink self service and lodge all your claims, for family tax benefit and paid parental leave, up to 3 months before your due date....then you only have to give them proof of birth once Bub is born and it's all done...no stress when you have a newborn to deal with! I am more than happy to help, if I can, with the calculator or any other questions you have...just message me through fb! Good luck with your pregnancy and new arrival and don't listen to all the b*^% on the fb post...you don't need to stress about jealous women you don't even know!