Maternity leave:
I've been working full time all my life, I've been working in the same job for the past 5 years full time shift work. I've been contracting in this job for 3 years due to know fault of my own- pay cuts. It means I don't get maternity leave, sick leave or leave and I get paid less then all the permanents that are doing the same job- it's just the way the industry works.
We are wanting to have a baby soon but I would like to know how maternity/ parental leave works for me, my husband works at the same place and gets paid double me. (Very very good pay) Will this affect my chances of getting help from the government when I have our baby? My husband and myself have seperate bank accounts and we don't see each others money- it's seperate which is the way I like it as I find money causes problem and having it this way we never ever fight about anything. I've never had help from the government but I was wondering would I be eligible considering I can't from my company at work. If I could get help from the government how much help can I get?
10 Replies
Firstly yes your husbands earnings will affect anything you get from centrelink. I don't know how the maternity leave thing works but I know that your husbands earning are taken into account. Centrelink do not see his and hers they only see theirs. So anything that is your husbands is yours in their eyes. They do not want to have to give you money if your joint income is above the threshold.
There is an on line estimator that you can put your details into and you can work it out from there.
Money only becomes and issue in relationships if you let it. Ie if one is more selfish than the other, If one doesn't like to budget nor do they want to share. It's important that your relationship is a partnership! If you are not eligible for any sort of centrelink and you don't want to share money I suggest looking for a job and working at least a year before deciding to have a baby.
I've been working the same job for 5 years with no leave at all not even for my own wedding. I have a job so I'm not sure what you mean I suggest finding a job? Are you meaning to say a permanent job?
I meant find a new job that has a maternity leave option. 5 years on a p-t salary but not getting benefits is pretty bad. Pretty horrible of your employer also, I'd be complaining if you live in Australia.
Unfortunately that's the mining industry for you, I live in the country where there is no other jobs in the field I am skilled in. I have no option unless we decide to relocate.
I can only answer regarding your husbands income. In centrelines eyes it's ALL joint income. So you'd need to know his income before enquiring with Centrelink. As far as Centrelink is concerned your husband will be responsible for financially supporting you and the baby.
These are very important discussions to have before you get pregnant. You both need to sit doswn and renegotiate how long you'd want to take off of work etc and what you are financially are prepared to do, as pregnancy hits some harder than others, it's quite likely you'll need much more time off than you originally intend and the government won't cover you if you need to go in bed rest in pregnancy etc.
so sit down, have the big convos about how a baby could effect you both, because you are going to have to make changes even if a pregnancy is totally smooth sailing.
Before you consider getting pregnant, I really think you need to change the dynamics of your financial relationship. You have to be a team when you have kids because you won't be working and even when you do go back, will his money be his and you pay for all the kids stuff? Kids are expensive, I have seen people struggle when they are in this kind of relationship which works when you are both working and then have major issues when the kids come along. Not saying you would necessarily have these issues as I don't even know your husband and his attitudes toward family/income, but I would have a discussion and get things sorted so there are no nasty surprises when it all happens and you both have clear expectations. Good luck.
I think my post has come across really bad now I've read it again, we work as a great team. We support each other very well but we both earn fantastic money and I've always been the saver and my husband pays for the houses but we just have seperate accounts because it makes it easier to save. One income saves and one income pays for everything.
Obviously when we have a baby it will be very different and he will have to support me and our baby and he is 100% happy to support, his not selfish. I'm actually very very lucky to have such an amazing husband with his supportive ways.
Paid parental leave is only income tested on the mums side. You need to satisfy a work test to be eligible for it I.e. You need to work a certain amount of hours in the 13 months or something like that before you go off on maternity leave. Income test for mum is $150k hubby'a doesn't matter. Our situation is that hubby earns about $150k pa and me $105k. I'm eligible for 18 weeks mat leave at minimum wage. Google paid parental leave and check it out.
Thank you!!! I did heaps of research last night. I will be eligible then.
Thank you again.
Hi, I just had a baby 5 weeks ago. I was a casual employee so wasnt entitled to maternity pay, only paid parental leave through centrelink. This is the same amount of money for anyone no matter what you or your partner earn, and is about $620 a week after tax for 18 weeks. You cant get family tax benefit while getting paid parental leave. When your paid parental leave finishes you can claim family tax benefit however the amount you get is based on you and your partners income (paid parental leave is also classed as income). My partner earns $87,000 a year and I will only be getting about $150 a fortnight for family tax benefit. Hope this helps.