Paid Parental Leave Rant

**mim1** · 09-12-2011 21:32

It took me 5 weeks to get my first payment from Centrelink for my PPL, so that was 8 weeks after my dd was born (I lodged the forms when she was 3 weeks old - seriously, so they need to make the forms so long & complex when you already do the online bit prior??!!!). It was my first interaction with Centrelink & I was VERY unimpressed. Thankfully I'm self-employed so I don't have the extra layer of complexity with a workplace like some of you, but still it's pretty poor form!

**soccer mum** · 12-12-2011 15:37

Mine didnt take that long, but I did have to get onto them straight away. And agree, its a bit dumb that you have to fill out the form, then go through everything again when you are in that state of sleepnessless having a new bub.

If you havent had to deal with centrelink ever before you are quite Lucky. They have improved A LOT!

**chrisy124** · 20-12-2011 19:17

My employer was constantly chasing Centrelink for paperwork and then when they received it, my boss was advised that they had 'misplaced the paperwork.

I noticed that there was a lot of information that was not given at the beginning. Poorly set up in my opinion.

3 month is a long time without cash flow. I had to wait only 4 weeks for my payments to come through - that was tough for us. I hope everyone that is waiting for their payments that it comes through soon.

**mummabear11** · 26-12-2011 18:46

They do recommend that you get all the paperwork in before the baby is born to allow more processing time, then you just have to show them proof that the baby has been born. I had no problems with them (which was a pleasant surprise) and they paid me without even seeing the birth certificate.

**Penny88** · 26-12-2011 19:07

I like to call them Cr@ppylink. They're the epitome of frustrating! It happened to me although it was resolved a bit faster as I had to go in to claim my Parenting Payment as well. They said that they hadn't received my proof of birth but it was just sitting in one of their trays! They found it and fixed it for me on the spot. Just keep calling or going in - you're bound to get someone who knows what they're doing eventually...

**lozza09** · 04-01-2012 23:29

ahh centrelink are so hopeless! hope its worked out ok for u now

**Luvmydogs** · 16-01-2012 16:16

When I went into medicare to provide them with a copy of my citizenship certificate, for them to pass it onto centrelink, the very nice lady there told me that after I have the baby I should bring the PPL forms back into medicare again instead of going to centrelink as they process them straight away, but if I went to centrelink it would take up to 6 weeks for processing

Very nice lady to tell me that, I will certainly do that

**bribaby** · 26-03-2012 17:46

I filled out my paper work online a month ago (i stil have 2mths til bub is born) i am crossing my fingers that since we are already in the system for our daughter that it will be just a matter of taking in bubs birth certificate once we have received it and adding bubs onto our account.. but we shall see...

i have heard alot of bad stories about centrelink and the PPL being processed...
i haven't had any problems with them so far (touch wood) as we have been dealing with them for the past 5 years now..

**mim1** · 06-04-2012 07:14

Originally Posted by Luvmydogs

When I went into medicare to provide them with a copy of my citizenship certificate, for them to pass it onto centrelink, the very nice lady there told me that after I have the baby I should bring the PPL forms back into medicare again instead of going to centrelink as they process them straight away, but if I went to centrelink it would take up to 6 weeks for processing

Very nice lady to tell me that, I will certainly do that

I took my forms into Medicare and it took 5 weeks and apparently that was standard at the time. So, don't assume that it will be much quicker going through Medicare.

**mim1** · 06-04-2012 07:16

Originally Posted by bribaby

I filled out my paper work online a month ago (i stil have 2mths til bub is born) i am crossing my fingers that since we are already in the system for our daughter that it will be just a matter of taking in bubs birth certificate once we have received it and adding bubs onto our account.. but we shall see...

Yes, it is just a matter of bubs being added to your account, but that's the process that seriously holds things up. So, I'd expect a 4 week delay from when you lodge your forms til your first payment at a minimum.