centrelink &studying

[jembelina]

Question???

DF would really love to go to uni but we had resigned ourselves to the fact teht it wasn't possible financially atm. WHich is a shame, because at the end of it he will be qualified and able to earn a decent wage! This got me thinking......does anyone know what kind of entitlements we would be eligible for if df was studying full time and I remain a sahm? Is anyone else doing that? Is it achievable or am I dreaming?lol! We are already on a low income, so i was thinking, depending on how much we could get, we might not be that much worse off iykwim. We will have 2 children by the time we got organised if we decide to do it.
Any info or experiences would be most appreciated.......

[Leesha]

Hi Jembelina

My DF is in the middle of his IT degree and we are due with our first in November. He only gets $400 a fortnight from Centrelink (incl. rent assistance etc) but because you already have children you would possible have the family tax benefit on top of this etc.

Even with me working full time and him at uni we struggle, and the baby isn't even here yet!! I won't lie to you, it is very hard some weeks but I keep telling myself that at the end of 2008 he will have a good career with a steady income!

I guess at the end of the day it may be worth it but it can be very tough!! Good luck with whatever your family chooses to do!!!

Me - 21
DF - 22
??? - 18/11/06 :fingerscrossed:

[CJJHRA]

Austudy payment provides financial help if you are aged 25 years or more and studying or undertaking a New Apprenticeship full-time.

Austudy payment partnered, with children $367.50
Parenting payment partnered $370.50
Family tax per child Under 13 years $137.06

then theres rent assistance of up to $133 per fortnight
And you may ge family tax part B, or a portion on it

Plus a health care card.

I see you are about ot have another bubs, therefore you'll get the $5000 and you could use that to save for emergencies, ect.

I would say go for it if you can afford it, while the kids are only young, as they reach school age, you will have more expenses and it gets ALOT harder.

[fruitjuice]

If it's going to make life easier later, then do it. Expenses are just going to get worse!!

The families that I know who are on centrelink are fine. They can't be extravagant about spending but they are doing really well. It just takes a lot of planning, but being a SAHM should make that easier. One family I know deal with it by giving all the money to the mother who is good at budgeting the money.

You just have to be prepared to cook your own meals and prepare lunches, go to the park instead of the movies, have a limit to how much you will spend on each item etc.

You can do it!!

Good luck!!!

[anna's mum]

Have you thought about external study options? Your hubby could just spend a lot of time at night & weekends studying, & still have his wage coming in. Might be an option :)

[Moni70]

My partner is studying and works part time and I work full time but I am due to have our first child in December.

I would love to be a SAHM, but I think we can prob only last for the first 6 months of next year, then I'll have to go back to work.

I'm a bit worried tho, cause my partner has to do a year of student work for his corse next year and will only get low to mid $20K/year! Then after that year he's got 2 more years of study AND he can't get Austudy because he already has a degree.

I've been looking into child care too and it looks like half of what I earn from my work would go in childcare fees if/when I go back to full time work.

Just some advise for readers..If you want to book into childcare...book AS SOON AS YOU FIND OUT YOU'RE PREGNANT. Waiting lists are LONG, especially for nursery.

[jessgray]

i would see if i can do the course off campus or part time rather then full time on campus. even night courses would be better then full time. c/link offers a one off payment of $200 to people who get benifets to help with upfrount costs. and thats about all they do apart from give you youth allowance or new start.

[Hokey Pokey]

My partner wants to do the same thing..

[borntobemummy]

My DH studies full time and works 2 days a week and gets youth allowance, I study part time and am SAHM the rest and get parenting payment and family tax A & B, we are doing really well, netting about $600 a week which is plenty for us, we just need to be careful which we are anyway. Centrelink also lets you get interest free loans if you're in trouble and pay them off gradually out of your payments. We used to both work full time, and by the time tax came out we weren't that better off. At least now, we are working towards something and have lots of time together with bubs atching her grow up. I do feel a little bad getting so much assistance, but i think we are blessed to be in this country with this system and when we are out there paying tax, we'll be giving back and helping others in similar situations!
All the best, Joelle