Baby bonus

[hmfmum]

Hey does anyone know what will be happening with the baby bonus this year?
i have heard that it will be means tested, is this so?
also, that it will be in fortnightly payments?

:confused:

[girly]

As of the 1st jan it is fort payments...

[susieq1969]

Yes, it will be means tested and 26 fortnightly payments

Regarding the means testing, I think that if you earn less than $75,000 in the following six months after your baby is born, then you will get it.

For example, if both parents are working, yet the Mum or Dad goes on maternity leave, only the one wage gets taken into account. Does that make sense. So if Dad or Mum on their own earn less than $75,000 in those 6 months then you're fine.

:):)

[beebs]

It annoys me that a few people using the payment in a bad way has made the rest of us suffer. I really wish they'd offer you the choice, either lump sum or fortnightly payment. I'm expecting twins and have a 2.5 year old. So all of a sudden I'm going to need to buy a people mover, a one off payment would be so much more helpful in that situation :)

[mitty]

Hey there

I had a bub on the 6th of jan and my baby bonus has just been approved etc and know now for sure the details. It gets paid over 13 fortnightly payments of $385.00--so works out to $5005.

Ours is just going straight from our main acc into our savings as we are saving up for a newer more reliable car which we dont want to get a loan for. Would of been more handier if it were paid in a lump sum but this is how it is and either way we don't need it but will be used for the whole family. COnsidering we have everything for bub anyway.

[hmfmum]

thanks so much gosh last baby it wasn't means tested.....damn oh well thanks for the replies.........

[poppie]

thanks so much gosh last baby it wasn't means tested.....damn oh well thanks for the replies.........

I know what you mean! It should not be called means testing because it is only income tested. I know people on a high income with huge outgoings for sick kids etc who won't get it at all, then there are other people living with relatives, paying no bills and have a lower income (no real outgoings) who qualify. Very unfair system I think. Would be fairer if it was actually means tested, but the resources needed for that would be huge I suppose.

[flis]

Hey there

I had a bub on the 6th of jan and my baby bonus has just been approved etc and know now for sure the details. It gets paid over 13 fortnightly payments of $385.00--so works out to $5005.


Hi Mitty & girls

Just curious - what kind of info do you provide for income etc - do they actually check against your tax returns or just bank account details etc - given it is a 6 mth period i would have thought it would be a bit tricky?

Flis

[KiahsMum]

I have heard you can give them your estimated income for the 6 month period (probably basing it on last year's earnings?) and they will pay if you are under and they won't necessarily ask you to pay it back if you get it wrong but I think if you give a figure which is unrealistic based on past earnings they will have issues with it. More that if mum has to return to work earlier than expected thus earning more they won't be nasty about it

Found this http://www.facs.gov.au/internet/fao/fao1.nsf/content/payments-maternity_payment-baby_bonus_1jan2009.htm

[Lily of the Nile]

Hi,
I think we will be ok with wages post 6 months, as I will stop work for that time anyway. But I was wondering what other people did when they had to buy all their baby stuff beforehand? I need everything as this is my first, and fortnightly payments after bubs is born won't even go on the baby now, I guess a lump sum would of been better, so if I used credit, I wouldn't pay too much interest. But that is putting me off now.
It's like they made it worse, instead of making people avoid spending it on tv's etc. now they have made people who genuinly needed it, spend it on other stuff anyway??
If I had that money 4 weeks before in a lump sum, it would be more sensible, and I would of used the whole thing and stocked up on everything I could possibly need even things it would need later on, like a year worth of clothes, books, toys etc.
I couldn't save it and do that anyway later because i tend to spend money that's there, I just know it would go on groceries and petrol etc. especially since I won't be working and am a contractor with no maternity pay or leave, $380 a fortnight will be play money now??

I was wondering if anyone knew whether big baby stores offer in store credit with no or little interest, where they take the baby bonus straight from your account to pay for stuff you buy before hand, instead of credit cards, ge finance etc??

[KiahsMum]

I know babyco have a take it home pay later type thing otherwise is there anyway you can layby? I have done this with both DD and this bub and it is easy and everything gets paid for with no interest? I wait for sales and layby away!

[MrsErinnElizabeth]

Does anyone know if they include maternity pay in that $75,000? Minus maternity pay, we would be very close to that. But I will have 14 weeks of maternity pay during that six months, which would put us over.

[*Cj*]

Sorry to say, I think you will fine that it is include, as it will still be income.

[HeidiLee]

Does anyone know if they include maternity pay in that $75,000? Minus maternity pay, we would be very close to that. But I will have 14 weeks of maternity pay during that six months, which would put us over.

Definately includes maternity pay - I am in the same boat. I have deferred my paid maternity leave until after the first 6 months.

[sandy119120]

It annoys me that a few people using the payment in a bad way has made the rest of us suffer. I really wish they'd offer you the choice, either lump sum or fortnightly payment. I'm expecting twins and have a 2.5 year old. So all of a sudden I'm going to need to buy a people mover, a one off payment would be so much more helpful in that situation :)


:iagree: is very annoying, i received baby bonus with my second child and i remember using to stay wth the baby for 4 months and then i went back to work i didnt have problem as i do nite shift but now i dont know how long i can stay it suppost to help i receive 197 a week how that helps?. And i was able to buy so many nice stuff for the baby mmmm OMG what do the change it gor everyone.

Im thinking now they need people to spend money this is a good think to give for people to spend!!!!!

take care everyone

[allatonce]

Yep - I agree this is :thumbsdown:

My partner's salary will be pretty close because he gets annual commissions paid in December/January, so it means that I just leave work earlier and use up my annual leave and maternity pay earlier, when I'd rather stay at work as long as I can (providing I can, of course!). If the choice is work for $5K or stay at home for $5K it doesn't really make sense to stay, does it?

We have a joke about "how are we going to get the bigscreen then?" but as it's our first bub we're going to need to make a few big purchases. Some people are responsible with money!.


Grrr - there's my rant :lol:

[bgbgbb]

What frustrates me with the baby bonus being means tested is that it doesn't take into account how many other children you have. It's alright to say that if you earn $75K in half a year and have only one child then you're earning a good amount, but when you have 4 children, like we do, then $150K p/a doesn't go nearly as far.

It's a pity they cant make the baby bonus available as a direct payment to obstetricians or hospitals, etc.:mad: