the baby bonus saga
I was really looking forward to getting our baby bonus. Paperwork
submitted, then waited a week and got a call.
“Hi it’s so-and-so from Centrelink, I’m just processing your baby bonus
and Family Tax Benifit and Rent Assistance, can I have your tax file
number?”
Call completed, then a second later another call:
“Hi it’s so-and-so from Centrelink again, it looks like you’re not
eligible for Rent Assistance.”
Me: oh that’s a shame, how much FTB will we get?
“Hmm, I’ll look that up … oh, looks like you’re not eligible for the
baby bonus. Jack was born last year, and under last year’s rules you can
only claim within 13 weeks of the baby’s birth.”
I was gutted. Not only was it impossible for Jack to have been in
Australia on account of him not having a passport from any country
within 13 weeks, but he would’ve had to be in Australia without his
mother for a $5000 bonus?
She called back a minute later:
“Hi, it’s so-and-so from Centrelink again, I think I’ll send this to
policy department for review as to whether you qualify or not. The
computer says no, but I agree that it’s a touch ridiculous.”
Anyway, after ruminating on it for some time, I believed the argument
for our eventual appeal would be that since FTB are paid and calculated
from when you actually arrive in Australia, and that Jack’s actual
arrival in Australia was March 2009, our 13 weeks should start then.
Anyway, it all became irrelevant this morning when 2 payments of $385
arrived in my bank account. Since the baby bonus site says that it’s now
paid in 13 fortnightly payments of $385, it appears we got it.
Uncategorized | Chuckler | 
April 6, 2009 9:59 am
By bek, April 6, 2009 @ 11:34 am
That’s good. I was about to offer to represent you for an ARO review.
By blacky, April 6, 2009 @ 7:43 pm
ok Dean …..I think you should google that!!!