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Centrelink FTB, fair or not?

Answered 5 years ago

Does anyone else feel that centrelink FTB rates are not fair? Like the government is out off touch with how expensive living and raising kids are?

For example the cutoff of the supplements at family rate of 80000?
Even if 2 people are working and getting GROSS $100000, its not that much.

Seriously i was better financially when i was single. Honest.


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ANSWER
5 years ago
I see your point. If you were to survive solely on FTB you probably wouldn't have much more than just the basics to survive. However, that's what the scheme is designed for. It's not a way to make a living. It's a way to ensure all children have the same basic jumping off point in life. If you're wanting more money, you're supposed to work for it. That's the design of the system.
I think giving more money is silly. We haven't earned this money just by having children. Not by societies standards at least. Although, I could also argue that we are earning it. But we'll leave that alone.

Honestly, if I was asked how to improve the current system for parents, it would be for the government to take charge of and regulate the daycare system. To redesign it similar to the creche systems in either Norway or France. That would make it easier for parents to return to the workforce and earn the extra money they need.

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REPLY
5 years ago
Move

REPLY
5 years ago
You pay for the moving costs and I will 😉

REPLY
5 years ago
Stop breeding

REPLY
5 years ago
Already have chook 😘

REPLY
5 years ago
I agree with reforms to daycare making it cheaper to use by government subsiding it a lot more to make it more affordable for people to return to work

REPLY
5 years ago
Tax payers aren’t working to fund your Lifestyle

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5 years ago
You don't think daycare should be subsidized? So, people returning to work which is what is encouraged to be contributing members of society, should be punished for returning to work? And we shouldn't have benefits at all?
So I guess having children is only for the elite and wealthy?
Is this correct, ScoMo?

ANSWER
5 years ago
Stop breeding
Who will support the barren women who have multiple cats

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REPLY
5 years ago
I need my ftb for my 4 children to support my 7 cats though

REPLY
5 years ago
🤣😂

ANSWER
5 years ago
Are you serious?
100k is heaps. And if it’s not you need to re evaluate.
This is barring any extenuating circumstances but yeah. You need to re asses your choices if you struggle on 100k.
We’re on 40-52k mortgage the roof over our heads, holiday OS most years and go on weekend holidays 2/3 times a year.
100k we would be on easy street

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REPLY
5 years ago
Can you please share a meal plan sand budgeting tips? My partner and i are on combined 90k yet it feels like we can never get ahead after mortgage, insurances, utilities.

REPLY
5 years ago
My budget tips are stop keeping up with the Jones

We live in a 2 bedroom unit (on the beach) aftereaving Sydney.
We’ve got 3 boys but it was either a unit or 40 minutes inland. Or a 3rd bedroom but an extra 100/150k in mortgage.
Next year is the year we sell and buy a house!!!
We spend most of our time at the beach
We have one car
Groceries are about 200 a week.
Sometimes 150.


We prioritise where our money goes. And we live within our means
We don’t waste any money and we don’t have nice shit just to have nice shit.
(Furniture car ect, though incidentally everyone comments on our home styling, marketplace is the greatest thing to ever happen to me)

We live happy and content.
My boys only get “things” for birthday and Christmas or out of their own pockets.
We don’t have space fore 500 toys anyways. As a result my boys prize their possessions and take such good care of their things.

A lot of people think we’re lucky, I think we’re smart.

REPLY
5 years ago
I think this beach trips are a good point. I’m realising more and more that you honestly don’t need to spend money on kids, despite all the Jones talk about every activity their kid is doing. Spending time with your kids and possibly doing some of those activities yourself is 10x more effective than paying for it. Being in nature is priceless though, and unfortunately not everyone gets to live so close to the beach or nature of their jobs don’t allow it.. this is where cost goes up because you don’t get that time to spend in nature. Thanks for the reminder

REPLY
5 years ago
.... sorry but we don’t receive benefits. So it’s all our own money.


Yes not everyone lives by the beach but when we’ve done stints in Sydney, and I grew up there.
We were always bushwalking or down at the oval running and kicking balls, and the local school hitting tennis balls against the wall, rode our bikes a lot. We still do all of these things but the beach takes up most our time.

My husband left a really great job. Twice actually.
When we had our kids we quit our lives moved up north where we could afford to live on the beach, left our families(the hardest part) And got literally cafe work. Both of us working part time. Both of us seeing our kids, all of us getting family time every day for 5 or more hours.

Honestly quoting the salary, and the 40 hour work week was not only the best lifestyle choice but ultimately it’s been the best financial choice.
It really taught us how to use our money with purpose and not be wasteful of anything (food, drink, time or money. )

REPLY
5 years ago
Why wouldn't you claim ftb if you're entitled to it though?

REPLY
5 years ago
I’m not entitled to it. We’re kiwis.

REPLY
5 years ago
Kiwis are entitled to FTB I'm one and get it for last 11 years it isn't much but it helps

REPLY
5 years ago
Lol yeah my husband is and he is entitled to all centrelink payments

REPLY
5 years ago
I’m a kiwi perminant resident so I think that’s what affects it? I’m not a citizen.

REPLY
5 years ago
My is not permanent, he has temporary visa, still eligible. You should look into it!

REPLY
5 years ago
Oh wow ok thankyou

REPLY
5 years ago
All kiwis can get it. Ring them

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5 years ago
This is exactly why Australia is a laughing stock around the world. People know they can come here and be paid for it. Maybe the government should look after OUR own backyard instead of handing out money to people who aren't even citizens. It makes me so mad. 🤬🤬

REPLY
5 years ago
They are helping out our backyard ffs, people can get hundreds of dollars in week in many situations form the government for literally doing nothing.

ANSWER
5 years ago
We earn 100k combined. Pay 1500 a month in mortgage 950 in child care. Live normally and save 2k a month. Learn to budget

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REPLY
5 years ago
We are similar, just over 100k annually combined. Rent is $1400 a month, daycare care is almost $900 a month and we still save a decent amount each month plus have all the things we need/want.

I think people who are struggling financially need to learn to lessen their expenses before they complain. So many people have luxuries they really can’t afford then claim that they don’t know where all their money goes.

ANSWER
5 years ago
It's what it is, because that's the government you paid for.
Although, when I was a single mum of 3, I earned $73000 and received 11k ftb.
Then I got a new partner and we moved towns and both our income was $75,000 ftb was 3k.
Im not complaining, because it's still extra money at end of the day, but I find I was way better off financially as a single working parent!