Can I just ask what is the maximum wage you can be earning to qualify for family assistance?

I told them I was unemployed and had earned about £20,000 since 1st April in the UK,They then asked what I would earn up to July and I guessed about $A20,000.I think the cut off maybe $A150,000 joint earnings.Someone out there may know better.I did`nt think with so much in the bank We would get a thing,But they did`nt even ask about savings.

i've just applied for family asistance (over the phone) and was told to estimate earning from Jan to july ( we arrived Jan) but then I got a further phonecall to say they thought my estimate was to low and have to include what we earned in UK from last July had never been aware we had to do that, has anyone else

Yep,After every phone call,We thought thats that,then they would call or send a letter to ask for something else.We phoned at first but then filled in a form,Then went to a Centrelink office with kids birth certificates,passports and rental agreement if applying for rent assistance.Had some confusion over TFN but think is sorted,Don`t know if money has gone in yet either.

Centrelink do do that, to judge your true annual income for that year.

You best bet is to migrate in July, that way you have no, or minimal, UK earnings in the relevant year.

Jayr, I'm always supportive of any tools that can help with working out the vaguaries of Oz tax and LAFHA. Thanks for yours and I think its good but with one error in its calculations. The LAFHA sums for Food do not seem to add up correctly, it should be a different figure. I think your weekly rate is too low, ours is altogether $370 (2 adults and 1 child) which is an annual figure of $19240, nearly 4 times what your tool comes up with. Just realised, is LAFHA a national thing or state thing which may account for different rates?? Anyway, merely an observation to help mate.

Thanks, just looked at the ATO guidelines again and it seems my calc is incorrect (being on the low side).

Food and drink amount of $42/adult and $21/child seems to be the amount assumed to be spent in the original location and therfore that amount gets taxed. The actual amount provided by the employer as compensation, in your case $370, appears to be FBT free. If the $370 is for ADDDITIONAL costs then there would seem to be no tax on it. IF it is for total costs then you need to remove $42 adult, $21 child which WILL be taxed leaving the rest tax free. The amount of comepnsation allowed (in your case $370) seems to have guidelines too which I will look into.

The interest on your savings is counted as income for centerlink benefits, as is all australian and worldwide income.

At the end of tax year your centerlink payments are adjusted from your estimated income to actual income, and are adjusted accordingly. Centerlink and the Australian Tax dept have direct access to your interest details.

Its best to keep income estimates very accurate or you get a bill for overpayment at end of year. We got a bill in 2008 for a tiny overpayment from 2004, and it wasnt even our error, theirs but they still sent letter of demand for it back.

I think this might work better for LAFHA.

I have taken the most current REASONABLE FOOD COMPONENT from ATO.

I have assumed that includes the statutory amounts of $42/adult and $21/child which ARE taxed and further assuemd that amount is taxed at the FBT rate of 46.5%. The remainder is then the EXEMPT allowance and free of FBT and income tax.

I no longer receive FBT so cant test this against my own salary so feedback would be useful.

Cheers mate, good work!!