Advice needed please!

[Phyllis Stein]

Hi all :wave:

I'm 2.5 years through a 5 year degree & DH & I are TTC#1. I'll be taking at least 6mths to a year off after birth to stay at home with bubs. After that, DH would love to be a stay-at-home-dad (at least partly) so I can get my degree done, but we don't know how we'll afford it. We don't mind a bit of poverty if it means we can have more time with our bubs & not have to put 'em in childcare.
Anyway, would DH be able to get help from Centrelink if I went back to study? Or am I just expected to stay home or put bubs in childcare? Are there any other options that others know of? Any advice would be really appreciated!

[BaDaBing]

Have a look on the Family Assistance website. I stayed home to study and look after ds and we rec'd family tax benefit which was better than any study allowance available. Perhaps your best bet would be to make an appt with centerlink and go through your options so you know where you stand.

Good luck:thumbsup:

[MCNmummyof2]

Depending on circumstances, you should be able to get austudy and your partner should get parenting payment, plus family tax stuff and rent assistance if you are eligible. We have 2 kids, and we are both studying so no income coming in and we get about $1000 a fortnight, so you would probably get a bit less than that depending on cirtcumstances

[Phyllis Stein]

Thanks for the advice - I'll look into the Parenting Payment & family assistance stuff. Thanks again :thumbsup: