Hi Sisters!
I have recently separated from my husband and we have a 2 year old. I moved back to my parents and we are in the process of looking into breaking our lease and each renting our own apartments.
I work full time and earn $52k a year and my daughter goes to daycare. Here are my questions:
Is this manageable for myself and my daughter to live off in a rental of around $250-$300 per week? I've looked at some rentals online and this is the price (I don't really have any other debts other than a car loan and the usual bills.)
Would I qualify for any single parent payment through Centrelink?
I haven't even considered child support payments yet. We are still amicable and on good terms. He earns about $45k a year so feel it would be a real stretch in finances for him being alone and also paying child support. We would work this out amoungst ourselves but what is a fair amount? (We will go halves in daycare fees.)
Any finally I'd love to hear any tips or encouragement from any single mothers who have been through this ... the fear of living alone with a little one does play on my mind. How did you adjust to a new normal?
Thanks for taking the time to read and post xx
5 Replies
I have a 2yo and 3yo snd seperated from there dad about a year and a half ago.
My ex and I have nearly 50/50 care, he doesn't work and I earn about the same as you working full time and my kids are in day care 2 days a week, I also have a car loan, I still live with my mum (as it works good for both of us) but honestly I don't think I could survive on my income living on my own.
I only get ftb I don't get any parenting payment because my income is too high, although I do still have a pension card.
If you're looking at getting a single parenting payment, then you are going to need to collect child support, Centrelink will cut you off or cut you right down if you aren't going to try and get it. You may be eligible for fam tax a or fam tax b I'm not sure which one and also rent assistance.
I certainly have lived off a lot less. I suppose it depends al lot on your expectations. But budget, be careful with your money and you should be right.
A lot will depend on your care arrangements. If you do 50/50 care you will have to pay him child support. If you have the majority of care then he may have to pay child support. Any FTB amount will be decreased by a percentage of child support assessment amount and you will both have to put in your child support application of either of you expect to get FTB, which I assume of he has any care of the children he will want to claim too.
You will need to take child support action in order to receive more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit A. You are able to advise Child Support that you would like a private agreement. Child Support will take it in to account, however they will still do an assessment. This is required and they will advise Centrelink of the higher amount (i.e. Either the assessment or your private agreement amount). The figure advised will determine the rate of Family Tax Benefit A you will receive. You can also provide verification if the rent you pay & may be eligible for Rent Assistance. Use the rate estimator online to check eligibility for Parenting Payment Single. The Pension Card alone would be invaluable to you. i.e. Discounted car rego, electricity, prescriptions etc..
Good luck with your new adventure xx
I've recently separated and we have a 18 month old daughter. We earn nearly half what you earn and seem to manage fine although we don't do daycare. I qualified for the single parents and this we split in half.