Hi Mums,
Just after some info on PPL for anyone who has claimed it. Im asking here because all of the information online is confusing me to no end. I have even asked friends who work for Centrelink about it and they couldnt help because it confuses them too! My friends both told me not to bother with the call centre as they're hopeless, so I plan on going in to see them on Friday (my day off) to discuss it but want to make sure I dont waste my time or anyone elses before I do. If im not eligible, I wont bother.
First of all, I commenced Permanent Part Time work on May 2nd, 2017 and I am due to give birth March 13, 2018. By counting on my fingers, this puts me at 10 months, 11 days (so "eligible" according to the website) but I want to make sure I am counting correctly before wasting my time going in. Am I? Do they count by days or months? I also work roughly 80+ hours a month so I have already covered the 330 work hours required.
The most confusing part for me is the website stating I must organise things with my employer. I thought you chose one or the other? I am not eligible for maternity leave through my employer as I wont have been there long enough, so if I am eligible for PPL I will go with that but the site states my employer also has some involvement? Aside from giving Centrelink all of my information regarding hours worked, taxable income for 2016/2017 financial year etc. What involvement do they have? I did not think they had any if I went the Centrelink route. Would just like to get my ducks in a row before I go in.
Is there anything I should know before I go in on Friday? Any information would be amazingly helpful. I am almost in my third trimester and up until a dream I had last night, I never thought twice about it as I didnt think I will have worked long enough to receive anything.
I am well aware that Centrelink are best to see in terms of questions regarding PPL but as stated, I cant go in until Friday so will appreciate any info I can get before then.
Thanks xxx
3 Replies
So, I’m not sure about your first question but I am pretty certain you can do the estimate calculation on the site and put in your specific info which tells you if you’re eligible or not. Is that what you’ve been doing?
Secondly, from my experience, my employer did have to be in contact with Centrelink and then the PPL was given to her, as to which she taxed and transferred over to me. Because PPL is taxed, it had to go through my employer. I am pretty sure that’s it anyway.
I am not sure if that’s the case for everyone but that’s what my situation was
Centrelink pay your employer and your employer pays you.
I think it's case by case.
My PPL was paid directly to me. I was a contractor when i fell pregnant. In my own circumstances i sought out approval from my boss who then had to get confirmation from his boss that I was approved to have mat leave.
I provided a years worth of income from my agency when i did my PPL application which was then approved.
I imagine it was paid directly to me as I was not paid by the company i worked for.
Neither my agency nor my employer had to speak with centrelink regarding my PPL.
Go through the application online, they will contact you if they need anything further.