Centrelink options for Stay at home mums

Just wondering if anyone can give me some info before I sit on hold for a few hours to be told there’s nothing available 😅

I have exhausted my paid work maternity leave and Centrelink PPL. But I am unable to return to work because childcare is atleast another 12 month wait despite bub being on the wait list since April last year. So I’m going to have to take an extra 12 months of unpaid maternity leave off. But I was wondering if there is any Centrelink payments for families available to assist with cost of living?

I know it’s all individual based on family income and number of dependent children etc, but just wondering if there is such a Centrelink payment that extends past PPL?

Thanks

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Theres a payment and service finder on the Centrelink website it tells you what your entitled to

There is no extension to PPL. It will depend on if you’re single or partnered and how much income your partner makes.

You could get parenting payment partnered and family tax benefits however your eligibility will depend on household hold income

You could try parenting payment partnered (if in relo) however it does depend on household income. You may have to find other childcare alternatives worst case scenario.

There is a parenting payment that you can apply for - same section in the app / online as Mat Leave & family assistance. Cut off is based on partners wage and your joint assets. I think the partner must earn under $60k :) hope this helps.

P.s. you’re better off applying online rather than waiting on hold as they will just direct you to go online :)

This is a bit left field.. but I thought about perhaps applying for a job at a gym creche, so you get a little income and your Bub can go with you to work essentially 😂
My gym had a wonderful crèche so I have considered it..
If that’s an option for you too?

Are you single?

Yes. parenting Payment and family tax benefit and rent assistance combined

This might not be the most helpful, but if you have other childcare centres nearby start contacting them and see what they can offer you. You might get a few days at one place and a few days at another that could enable you to get back to work

in our community

Family culture difference on money

Sorry this is long, I hope some of you get to the end and give advice!!!

So I’m a very thrifty person, things are tight at the moment, the cost of living crisis and my house is heated by oil so things are extortionate. We aren’t on the bread line but we aren’t flush, hubby might be made redundant so there is some financial pressure.

Sometimes I buy my sons something nicer, on the justification that I can sell it on after (♥️ vinted ♥️). I have also been planning on pretty much breaking even most of the baby things I bought from face book market place, side by crib, baby changing unit, etc.

Hubby and I have different money cultures with our families (he’s Indian, I’m British). I’m my family we don’t mix money, we would help each other out if someone was in trouble and will get each other gifts on special occasions. With hubby’s family money is much more fluid, they will give each other things worth thousands of £ just because.

Hubby’s brother bought him a new laptop and a new Google phone, he’s been very generous to hubby. Hubby hasn’t given the same back because brother is much richer.

Hubby and I mostly share finances. If it’s relevant I’m the higher earner.

Now to the point! My babies are so cute they’ve given hubby’s brother (currently single) baby rabies. He’s asked for our baby stuff when we’re done with it. He’s been so generous to hubby I feel really stingy saying no. But I’d never have bought some of the stuff if I wasn’t going to get a return on it - the thought makes me a bit anxious. If we gave all our baby stuff given the second hand value it still wouldn’t equal what the brother had given hubby.

I thought maybe I could give him some stuff but sell some stuff, but hubby said then his brother will just have to go out and buy that stuff, so I should name my price and ask his brother for the money. That makes me feel very uncomfortable, given how generous the brother has been to hubby.

So what do I do ladies? Give it all and suck it up? Give part of it and sell parts on Vinted/FB, or ask hubbys brother for money for it and be uncomfortable? Or do you see another solution?

No one is being entitled or rude here, just a culture difference I need to navigate.

My relationship is failing I feel so alone.. I need a girlfriend to talk to :(

I'm a sahm and I feel so stuck... anyone going through the same thing? I could really use someone to relate to and talk through this with. Feeling so vulnerable but if I don't I won't be able to pull myself out of this

Go to dinner ideas

Looking for recipes you use in your family that are not the traditional lasagna, shepards pie, ect

Going back to work!

Already thinking about this! Told my boss I was pregnant this week at 10 weeks, he was so happy for me. He’s recently became a first time Dad and was showing me pictures of his baby. I told him my plans about going back after 6 months and he looked at me like I was mad, am I!? I absolutely love my job and cannot imagine giving it up, I manage a team and am petrified my position won’t be there if I had a year off. My husband gets 6 months full pay so the plan would be for him to have the last 6 months off and I also made it clear to my boss that I would like to go part time. That way we can hopefully parent together 4/7 days rather than just the weekend! I am such an overthinking! 🤣 but this is what I’m struggling with the most, I’ve worked full time since I was 17 (12 years ago) and the max time I’ve had off in one go is 2 weeks when I got married. I’m sooo excited to be a Mum and we decided now was the right time, which it 100% is! But I feel so on edge about not working! I’m sure once I’m on maternity leave I won’t even think about work! Has anyone else felt the same?

What are we giving our soon-to-be 3yo for their birthdays?

We have the magnetiles, we have the kinetic sand and play doh, we have the play kitchen…

Literally, is there anything left in the world to buy this spoilt kid? 😅

Baby groups?

Hello there!!
I hope you enjoying the 5month babies 🫠 the cuteness outweighs everything over here.
We live in the area of Croydon & need to start going to baby groups ( I NEED it more than him though) but I am a little bit clueless. Any recommendations?
We are happy to travel a bit too.
Thanks ☺️