The Australian equivalent of the child benefit is called Family Assistance and is managed by the govt organisation called Centrelink.  To be honest, we never thought we'd be entitled to it as it's means tested and Mike earns a good wage.  Anyway, we've looked at the forms many times and they always looked so complicated that they always ended up back at the bottom of the inbox.

 

Well, a couple of weeks ago, and with a new mortgage looming, I decided to procatinate no longer, and got online and on the phone and filled in all the forms.  I quickly got a letter telling me they needed to see our rental lease, visas and bith certs for the girls and I duly trotted off to the local centrelink office last Wednesday.

 

I was just this morning wondering how long it would take before I heard from them when the postie brought me a nice surprise in the mail....

 

They owe us over 6 months back family assistance payments and have paid a lump sum into our bank account.  Also, with effect from next week, we'll get regular payments which will cover about a whole weeks food bill per month so I'm really really excited.  Of course, it may well be reduced once we stop renting as I think a portion of it is what they call "rent asistance" but for the time being it's all very much appreciated.

 

Advance Australia Fair