FTB is like minimum 180 per child per fortnight, times that by three. THe other ftb is 160 pf per family. Then you have rent assistance, you have concession entitilements- electricity, phone, rego, travel. Day care and before afterschool is not low cost when you ave a few

I’m assuming she has more than one child since she refers to kids plural

And your example might factor in child support

OP here: ok, i get no child support, or rent assistance i only receive F.tax for two of my kids as my eldest finished year 12 two years early, i have 3 Diploma’s and had worked my whole life from age 14 until the birth of my last child, who is 4 now. Working part time (im a Counsellor) im on about $35000 p/y, with that i can still get around $8000 p/y pension and f.tax which is about $11000 p/y. The problem is i am also in public housing, bringing in this amount of money puts me $16000 over what im allowed to earn to keep the house. (Im lucky to have a lovely house-rare for public housing- in the city with great schools) If i lose the house i will have to go back into the private rental market as i cant get a home loan on my income (or not enough to buy a house) if i go private i will have to work full time, but i will be financially worse off then what i am now and have all the stress of working f/t. Plus if i go private will have to go to a poor area with bad schools. Thoughts?

OP: In my opinion keep yourself in the best position to allow your children a good schooling - you are afterall investing in their future. If it means working less to be eligible for support that gives your children the best start to life - don't overthink it. Not everyone is born into optimal circumstances. The best we can do is make do with what we have and try to make the most of it. The fact that you are eligible for social housing is enough for me to assume your family benefits from it. The private rental market can be absolutely horrible, destabilising and stressful at times - especially for lower income earners. Not to mention, some real estate agents like to take a power trip. You could also research if it is possible for you to purchase the house you are currently renting - I know there are some schemes in QLD that allow it.

As per above - should state; To the OP. I'm definitely not the original poster. 😊

Thanks you for this reply! Another really helpful comment! SAHM community have really rallied around me for my question, and i cant believe it! I was expecting so much abuse!!!

Im first commenter. Sorry I misread one child. But yes I didnt take into account social housing. But then you didnt put all of that info in the OP either! Specifically you didnt mention you work part time thats very different to not working at all because you will have a work history down the track.

Is Wa housing different? We just pay a higher rental rate for public housing as the income goes up

^ The same in WA but there is a limit that you can earn to live in a homeswest house. They don't just kick you out on the street though. They do help finding alternative accomodation

Love this ^^

Excellent list. I would also add to make yourself much more employable when your children are grown. Big gaps in your resume an being older by then make you less employable - better to have your foot in the door already, even if it’s casual part time or study.

This is a truly lovely response, thank you who ever wrote this, I'm not the original person who posted, but was trying to think of a positive way to give feedback and before I could even begin to think, I started reading and agree with you 100%
Also to add one thing, when your children are grown and you are no longer reviving x amount of $ it would be much more difficult for you enter the workforce as it is now, taking COVID-19 out of the equation.

I wrote this. Glad people have liked it

❤

OP here: i want to be your friend! ❤️

I can't work that out, i work and still get family tax benefit of around 10k a year. But I'm working and earning more money than just a pension

You know you can work AND spend time with your babies. Most women in Australia manage it. It is harder as a single parent sure but statistically more single parents work than not, as well.

OP Here: thank you so much for this reply! Very helpful!!

Me again! Thanks again, so grateful you took the time to think about this and write such helpful stuff! You have made my day!

This is incorrect, a common misconception.

This was my thought about OPs situation too, 'keeping your foot in the door' basically.

Plus super.