Benefits!!!

[madmum]

Hi, just after a bit of advice on benefits in Oz, i have been told by a friend that you can still claim child benefit in Oz and also in some situations can still claim things similar to working tax credits and child tax credits, my partner is in full time employment and at the moment i am a stay at home mum to 4 which is how we like it, allthough i am more than willing to give this up and return to work (i have a diploma in childcare) if this made life easier in Oz.
I had originally planned to stay out of work for another year until our youngest was 2yrs but i would sacrafice this and go back to work a year early.
Does Oz even have a benefit system? Any advice would be great x

[kaz101]

Hi MadMum,

As part of our skilled migrant visas we were told that we had to support ourselves for 2 years and would not be able to claim any benefits (other than Medicare since we have a permanent visa). I haven't checked into this but here is the Centrelink Home Page website that may have that info.

Regards,
Karen

[kaz101]

Just found this link for migrants on the website
Customer Services Online - About Services - For Migrants - Payments for Migrants
It says

Important Note: In general, social security payments from Centrelink are only available to people who reside in Australia and are either Australian citizens or holders of permanent visas. In addition, most social security payments and concession cards, except Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Benefit, have a two year newly arrived resident's waiting period. There are some exemptions, e.g. refugee and humanitarian visa holders. Some pension payments have their own 'qualifying residence' requirements with some exceptions. Also, some services are only available when receiving a payment from Centrelink.

So there must be a similar system here....

[madmum]

Thank you Kaz checked out the website and it proved very helpful, so fingers crossed! x

[kaz101]

No worries madmum - glad I could help.

[macyoung]

Originally Posted by kaz101

No worries madmum - glad I could help.

Hi Kaz, just wondered if you could advise me about medicare. Our visa was approved yesterday and we are thinking of moving in Feb, I have two young children and my husband is concerned about leaving the NHS with free medical care behind. We have a general skilled independant 175 visa, can we sign up for medicare straight away, or once in work? We would take out private health once in a position to do so, but money will be tight for a while and would be worried in case kids got sick etc. Also, I heard you can claim back half of your childcare expenses if both working, again is this option open to new immigrants? Thanks!

[kaz101]

Originally Posted by macyoung

Hi Kaz, just wondered if you could advise me about medicare. Our visa was approved yesterday and we are thinking of moving in Feb, I have two young children and my husband is concerned about leaving the NHS with free medical care behind. We have a general skilled independant 175 visa, can we sign up for medicare straight away, or once in work? We would take out private health once in a position to do so, but money will be tight for a while and would be worried in case kids got sick etc. Also, I heard you can claim back half of your childcare expenses if both working, again is this option open to new immigrants? Thanks!

Hi macyoung,

I think you can sign up for Medicare immediately - I don't think either of us were working when we applied. We simply walked into the Medicare office, explained we were new and they signed us up (I think we needed verification of who we were).

I have no idea about childcare expenses since we don't have kids.
Have you checked the Medicare website?
Medicare Australia
New residents - Medicare Australia
Also try a search on these forums since I think that question has come up before...

If you don't take out Medicare within 12 months, and you are over 30 you will get hit Lifetime health cover tax Department of Health and Ageing - Lifetime Health Cover

Regards,
Karen

[macyoung]

Originally Posted by kaz101

Hi macyoung,

I think you can sign up for Medicare immediately - I don't think either of us were working when we applied. We simply walked into the Medicare office, explained we were new and they signed us up (I think we needed verification of who we were).

I have no idea about childcare expenses since we don't have kids.
Have you checked the Medicare website?
Medicare Australia
New residents - Medicare Australia
Also try a search on these forums since I think that question has come up before...

If you don't take out Medicare within 12 months, and you are over 30 you will get hit Lifetime health cover tax Department of Health and Ageing - Lifetime Health Cover

Regards,
Karen

Thanks! Will start ploughing thro' all the info.
Macyoung