Of all the challenges solo parenting can bring into your life, one thing is for certain- being a single parent can also bring isolation.

When you’re parenting alone there’s a whole range of extra pressures and worries dual-parent families usually don’t experience.

Child support arrears, Family Court Orders, Centrelink single parenting benefits info and even Domestic Violence Orders seem a whole world away from normal two-parent family parenting problems. So when you feel like you need a chat, or just a listening ear you may find that your married or partnered-up friends have difficulty relating to your separated parenting problems – which leaves you feeling more isolated and alone than ever.

So where can single parents turn to for help?

The answer is that your single parent tribe is waiting for you online – you should join a single parent support group!

The following online single parenting groups are the biggest and best in Australia.  Well established and moderated, they accept Australian members only, and are the top single parent online support groups in Australia. Best of all – they are all completely free to join.

1. Australian Single Mum Support Group

The number one Australian single mums Facebook group by a country mile, this twenty-five-thousand plus member group is the official Facebook-recognised community leader. It also happens to be one of the most highly engaged groups on Facebook, with hundreds of thousands of engagements each month! Here you can connect, share, learn and vent with like-minded single mums who “get” you and your Aussie single mum life. All you need to join is to be an Australian resident, and a single mum!

Definition of a single mum / single parent

For the purposes of membership of our groups our definition of an Australian single parent and single mum (or sole parent/solo parent is as follows;

An individual who doesn’t have a physical relationship with their child’s other biological parent. It is acceptable for single parents to be re-partnered and still join our groups

Join the Australian Single Mum Support Group here

2. Australian Single Parent Support Group

The biggest online Aussie single mum and single dad group there is, with over ten thousand single parent members and many Australian single parent discussions each day – be it child support, family court, child custody or meal planning! It’s worthwhile noting that this is not a single parent romance group – it’s a single parent support community.  (So don’t join this one if you’re ONLY looking for a new romantic partner online – join our romance group instead, here!)

Join the Australian Single Parent Support Group here

3. Australian Separated, Single & Divorced Mums Facebook Page

With over 40,000 Australian single mother (and single father) followers, this is the original Aussie single mum Facebook Page. This page is where you’ll find the latest Australian Centrelink, child support and family law news, plus it’s the hub page of a range of smaller Aussie single parent Facebook interest groups, including Centrelink, Child Support and House Sharing Facebook groups.

Follow the Australian Separated, Single & Divorced Mums Facebook Page here

4. The anonymous Single Mother Forum website

This Australian single mother forum website has been established for over ten years, and holds a massive amount of Australian single parent-specific information. From taking child support debt to court, to sole custody, to cooking for six – this forum is where you can find a record of thousands of anonymous Australian single mum questions and answers. Only Aussie single mums may actually join this support group, but the information is accessible to all.

Visit the Australian Single Mother Forum website here

5. Australian Mums receiving Child Support chat group

The only Australian group of its kind, this Facebook group is specifically targeted to Aussie mums who are receiving (or in many cases, owed) child support from their ex-partner. Compare and learn from each other for the best child support outcome for your children, and indeed your single mum family overall.

Join the Australian Mums Receiving Child Support Facebook chat group here

6. Australian single mum share house notices

If you’ve ever considered sharing a home with a fellow single mum family to save money, cut costs, companionship or even share child minding, then

Join the Aussie single mums seeking or offering share houses Facebook group here

10 more Australian single parent Facebook groups you’re going to love!

Created due to demand, the following four new Aussie single parent groups are bound to take off fast…

1. Aussie single mum meetups for friendship & companionship

A new group for mums that want to make single mum friends – even if your lonely when you don’t have the kids when they are at your ex’s! Join here

2. Aussie single mothers paying it forward

A new group for single mums to list items for free for other mums to benefit. Join here

3. Australian single mums who budget and save

Are you a super-savvy single mum and ready to share your tips and hacks, or are you needing some super-tight budget ideas? This is the group for you! Join here

4. Australian single mums who caravan and camp

A new single mum caravanning and camping group for those who are casual campers, doing the lap or travelling Australia full time! Join here

ALSO these State camping sub-groups:

NSW Single Mums who caravan and camp

https://www.facebook.com/groups/846918812829676/

Queensland Single Mums who caravan and camp

https://www.facebook.com/groups/745314736102827/

Victoria Single Mums who caravan and camp

https://www.facebook.com/groups/169093878080892/

South Australia Single Mums who caravan and camp

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1532910156905554/

Western Australia Single Mums who caravan and camp

https://www.facebook.com/groups/156288102969719/

Tasmania Single Mums who caravan and camp

https://www.facebook.com/groups/433104288005804/

Northern Territory Single Mums who caravan and camp

https://www.facebook.com/groups/948832205652353/

5. Barefoot Investor Australian single mums

A new group especially for mums to network and learn about Barefoot Investor strategies and tips. Join here

6. Australian single mums who have been widowed

A new group for widowed single mums who may appreciate support of a more specialised kind – the loss of a partner. Join here

7. Australian single mums & dads ready to love again

A new single parent romance group for those who are ready to dip their toe back in the love pool! Join here

8. Australian single parents who holiday and travel

A new single parent travel group for anyone who loves to go away on trips!i  From planning your next weekend getaway to a domestic or international single parent holiday. Join here

9. Australian women thinking about leaving their partner

A group for Aussie women to get tips on how to leave their partner. Join here

10. Australian single mums who date or are repartnered

A group for single mums dating again, or new partner issues and chat. Join here

Australian single parent Facebook Pages by city/region

Local single parent Facebook Pages can be a great resource. Here is a list of Australian capital cities and region pages.

Join the Sydney single parent group here

Join the Melbourne single parent group here

Join the Brisbane single parent group here

Join the Adelaide single parent group here

Join the Perth single parent group here

Join the Canberra single parent group here

Join the Darwin single parent group here

Join the Tasmania single parent group here

Join the Wollongong single parent group here

Join the Newcastle single parent group here

Join the Goulburn single parent group here

Join the Mid-North Coast single parent group here

Join the Gold Coast single parent group here

Join the Mackay single parent group here

Join the Sunshine Coast single parent group here

Join the Ipswich single parent group here

Join the Toowoomba single parent group here

Further Australian single parent resources

Singlemum.com.au

The huge Australian singlemum.com.au website is the original and still number one Australian single parent website, with its own finance, legal and lifestyle single mum experts addressing current issues and topics. The mother-ship for all things single parent in Australia, the singlemum.com.au network extends to encompass and reach hundreds of thousands of Australian single mums and dads. Visit singlemum.com.au here

Letsgomum.com.au

An Australian single parent travel blog. This Aussie single mum shows how to go it alone and still manage to travel the world – or even just holiday down the coast – successfully as a single parent. Travel with kids as a solo parent never looked so fun! Visit the Australian family travel website Letsgomum.com.au here

You should never feel alone or isolated because of your divorce, separation or single parent by choice journey.

There are thousands of other Australian single parents out there going through the same problems as you! Why not  join forces and share information, experiences, problems – and maybe a laugh or two – and join a single parent support group? You’ll never feel alone on this single parenting journey again!

Singlemum.com.au Staff Writers

If you enjoyed reading this article, please give us a Facebook “Like” or comment below, to keep them coming!

The post 6 Australian single parent support groups you need to join now appeared first on Singlemum.

Not only does the physical nature of the body improve and become healthier, but it also leads to a healthy state of mind, so that each day can be enjoyed in a relaxed and controlled manner. Confidence plays a huge part in overall life satisfaction, so having a set of great-looking teeth and feeling good when smiling is hugely beneficial. Those with crooked teeth or who have gaps which lead to issues are recommended to visit a dentist and speak to them about clear aligners, which can help resolve such problems.

It is surprising just how many individuals with crooked teeth or those with those that are overlapping put up with the condition, maybe through worries about the cost or pain to put it right. However, having the right treatment is simple, which is a world away from the old way, which was to wear unsightly and often painful braces. The treatment can be comfortable and take a shorter time than ever before, with the aligners hardly being noticeable as they do their job. Fortunately, those who are unsure can check out the Beseenhub website to receive expert advice in such matters.

The best aligners will be tailor-made for each patient by a professional dentist who will communicate clearly so that the process is understood, with all its benefits. Rather than teeth growing in directions that they shouldn’t, which can lead to further health issues, they will straighten gradually, so that anyone previously embarrassed can relax with a set of perfect-looking teeth. Overbites and underbites, which see teeth overlap or extend forward can all be straightened properly, with most dentists turning to a digital planning tool called ClearPilot to ensure that the right treatment is administered.

The aligners supplied by ClearCorrect are of the highest quality, utilising ClearQuartz technology to deliver the best results, which require fewer dental appointments while providing a safe and proven procedure so that a patient can enjoy their new oral appearance. Because of the modern advances in technology, the aligners are far more comfortable to wear than previous options. They can offer a clearer head for those looking to save money when comparing health energy insurance.

Keeping good oral hygiene becomes easier for those who wear clear aligners rather than braces as food is less likely to be caught or trapped in them. They are easy to remove and clean, while all types of food can be enjoyed which gives them a distinct advantage over their alternatives.

Clear aligners, when provided by a dentist which uses the best designs and suppliers can straighten teeth to improve appearance and increase confidence.

The post Great reasons to choose clear aligners for a happy confident smile appeared first on Singlemum.

Anthony Albanese confirmed the long-awaited extension to the Single Parenting Payment as part of the 2023-24 Federal Budget, bringing in the change of Parenting Payment (Single) being paid to single parents when their youngest child turns 14, instead of 8.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “This change to single parent payments is about making things fairer for parents who are already doing it tough.”

The Federal government is responding to continual calls for change from single mum advocate groups to relieve the financial pressure on single mum families around Australia.

Finally a government is taking  steps towards restoring the previously removed single mother pension from women – at least in the most-part – to help support single Mums and their children.

Anthony Albanese was raised by a single mum

Anthony Albanese was raised by a single mother and experienced first-hand how much pressure sole parent families can be under. He has supported the change to help relieve the financial pressure single parent families are under so that mothers aren’t forced to return to work early, when their children are too young to adequately care for themselves.

Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth stated, “No parent should have to choose between meeting their children’s needs and their family’s safety or economic security.”

Here are the facts:

What is the change to the Centrelink Single Parent Payment?

This Budget will see the extension of the Parenting Payment (Single), so that eligible carers can access more financial support until their youngest dependent child turns 14.

When will the Single Parent Payment be extended?

The Single Parent Payment will change from the 20th of September 2023 (subject to legislation procedure). Single parents will be able to stay on the Single Parenting Payment until their youngest child turns 14, instead of being moved to the lower paid JobSeeker benefit when their youngest child turns 8.

What if I am already on JobSeeker?

If you are already receiving the JobSeeker Payment and your youngest child is aged under 14 you will automatically be transferred to Parenting Payment Single.

What is the difference between the Single Parenting Payment and Jobseeker?

The current base rate of Centrelink’s Parenting Payment (Single) is $922.10 per fortnight.

Jobseeker’s maximum basic rate payment for eligible parents and carers is currently $745.20.

How much more money will I get?

PPS is $176.90 per fortnight higher than the lower-paid Jobseeker.

Who benefits from the raise in Parenting Payment Single?

The vast majority of Australian parents affected by this change are single mothers. They represent more than 90 per cent of carers who will benefit. That’s 57,000 single principal carers – 52,000 of which are women.

Will there be mutual obligation requirements?

Unfortunately mutual obligation requirements will still remain in place for recipients of Parenting Payment (Single). More details to come on how this will work.

By Single Mum Australia Staff

Comment on this story below

Are you affected by these Centrelink benefit changes? Your opinions are valued here! Tell us what you think by commenting below!

Do you have a single mum opinion, vent or story of your own?

If you’d liked to see your own single mum story or experience published anonymously here on the SingleMum website, simply email it to us – short or long – using our contact page business form here. If approved, we can edit and publish it for you! (Successful submissions will not be paid)

Join our single mum support groups!

If you want to join the general single mum chat, ask questions or vent about being an Aussie single mum, join our Australian single mum Facebook support group or our Australian Centrelink mum Facebook support group, or our Australian Child Support mum Facebook support group.

You can join the Australian Single Mum Support Facebook Group here.

The post Single Parenting Payment youngest child age raised – here’s the facts – updated appeared first on Singlemum.

For many Australian single mums who are participants of ParentsNext, the Centrelink scheme is a constant threat to their financial stability. One missed appointment or attendance could result in the immediate suspension of their Centrelink payments.

For others, ParentsNext has helpful back to work training, child care subsidies and other support benefits.

Whichever way you see it, the Government has just announced that they are abolishing the ParentsNext program and suspending all compulsory mutual obligations.

We’ve put together a list of answers to some of the big single mum questions regarding the axing of ParentsNext.

• When does Parents Next end?
• When do ParentsNext compulsory obligations end?
• Do Jobseeker compulsory obligations end too?
• I’m on ParentsNext – what do I need to do?
• What do single mums need to tell Centrelink?
• Are there changes to Community Development Programs?
• What is ParentsNext?
• Can I volunteer to join ParentsNext?
• Will there be a new ParentsNext program?

When does Parents Next end?

The Albanese government has announced that ParentsNext will be cancelled entirely from 1 July 2024.

When do ParentsNext compulsory requirements end?

From the 5 of May 2023, all Parents Next compulsory requirements are paused. You will no longer lose your Centrelink benefits for not attending interviews or taking part in any Parent Next activities.

All ParentsNext compulsory participation has ceased and has been officially paused.

You can read our complete guide to Australian single mother Centrelink benefits and payments here.

Do Jobseeker compulsory requirements end too?

No. All other Centrelink compulsory requirements other than ParentsNext continue as normal.

I’m on ParentsNext – what do I need to do?

You may still be invited to join ParentsNext if appropriate.

You can commence or continue to be in the program if you choose to and take part in any current activities and receiving current supports.

Parents participating in ParentsNext will still receive help to plan and prepare for employment, including financial assistance to undertake education or training. The Albanese Government encourages single mums to continue to access ParentNext supports on a voluntary basis.

However any of your compulsory participation requirements have now been “paused”.

Any of the activities or tasks you were placed in as a Parents Next customer are now no longer required if you don’t wish to take part. This includes attending compulsory provider appointments.

You will no longer be required to attend any activities that were set by your provider or agree to any previously compulsory Participation Plan.

You are no longer being threatened with your Centrelink payments being cancelled or stopped because you didn’t satisfy your ParentsNext requirements.

What single mums still need to tell Centrelink

Do I need to Report to Centrelink?

Yes. You still need to report any income or earnings you receive to Centrelink.

Do I need to tell Centrelink if I have a partner?

Yes. If you haven’t already done so, all Centrelink Single Parent Payment recipients are required to disclose if they are no longer single as it may affect your payments.

You need to let Centrelink know if your circumstances change, such as if you enter into a new romantic relationship, have a new partner or move in with a boyfriend.

If you are receiving Single Parenting Payment (or Jobseeker, or other Centrelink benefits) the amount you receive may be affected by your new relationship.

You can read about what kind of relationships may affect your Centrelink payment here.

Are there changes to Community Development Programs?

The government has also announced that many of Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia’s Community Development Programs mutual obligation or participation requirements have also been paused.

Check if your CDP program has been affected on the Centrelink website here.

What is ParentsNext?

ParentsNext was a compulsory program introduced by the Coalition government in 2018. It was officially described as “helping” parents of children aged under six prepare for future work and employment. It aimed at creating a pathway for single mothers to get off welfare and back into the workforce via study or work goals.

Whist this sounds like a supportive program, participation for many was not a choice, with “customers” of the scheme actually being termed as “compulsory participants”.

What the ParentsNext scheme actually did was threaten, and indeed in many cases remove the Centrelink benefits of single mums who didn’t comply with the program. If they missed an appointment, activity or training their payments could be suspended indefinitely.

ParentsNext threatened disadvantaged Australian single mums with removing their Centrelink payments

ParentsNext was seen by many Aussie low-income mums as yet another government hoop to jump through, which actually added further to the stress of being newly divorced, separated or single woman with dependent children.

Single mothers who were already struggling, searching to find a new place to live after leaving an (often abusive) relationship, trying to survive with the majority care of their children whilst on low welfare payments and all the other added stresses of bringing up young children alone had even more onerous responsibilities heaped upon them by the ParentsNext scheme. If mothers didn’t meet their compulsory requirements, they faced imminent homelessness, starvation and poverty.

Can I volunteer to be in ParentsNext?

Yes. You can volunteer to be in ParentNext if you have a child under six years of age, are receiving Centrelink Parenting Payment and you don’t live in a Community Development Program or live in Norfolk Island. Contact Centrelink for more information.

Will there be a new ParentsNext program?

The government has indicated that yes, there will be a replacement work support program, but it will be a voluntary scheme that doesn’t threaten to take away Centrelink payments if you participate. We can only wait and see what that looks like after the approaching Budget announcements – watch this space!

By Single Mum Australia Staff

Comment on this story below

Are you on ParentNext? Your comments are valued here! Tell us your opinion by commenting your thoughts below!

Do you have a single mum opinion, vent or story of your own?

If you’d liked to see your own single mum story or experience published anonymously here on the SingleMum website, simply email it to us – short or long – using our contact page business form here. If approved, we can edit and publish it for you! (Successful submissions will not be paid)

Join our single mum support groups!

If you want to join the general chat, ask questions or vent about being an Aussie single mum, join our Australian single mum Facebook support group or our Australian Centrelink mum Facebook support group, or our Australian Child Support mum Facebook support group.

You can join the Australian Single Mum Support Facebook Group here.

The post Centrelink’s ParentsNext changes – what single mums need to know appeared first on Singlemum.

Expert Opinion Panel

Jason Bryce – Business & Finance Specialist

Howard and Gillard’s single parent pension cut to be restored?

By Jason Bryce

Next Tuesday the Treasurer Jim Chalmers will apparently largely reverse Julia Gillard’s axing of the Parenting Payment (Single) for single parents whose youngest child is 8 years of age or older.

Leaks and information coming out of Canberra indicate the parenting payment will be restored for single parents until their youngest child enters high school.

Single mums struggle on the Centrelink Jobseeker payment

Hundreds of thousands of mothers and children have lived in very difficult financial circumstances over the last 11 years. The Howard government first cut the Parenting Payment in 2006 but ‘grandfathered’ all recipients already on Parenting Payment.

The Gillard government ended the grandfathering, sending more than 80,000 parents onto the lower Newstart (now called Jobseeker) rate very suddenly.

Parenting Payment (Single) is currently $949.30 per fortnight including a supplement of $27.20. That’s more than $200 over the $745.20 per fortnight current rate for Jobseeker (Single with dependent children).

Raising the Parenting Payment age of the youngest child

The big question seems to be what will be the new maximum age for the youngest dependent child under the new Parenting Payment (Single) rate?

The minister for women Katy Gallagher is believed to be pushing for a cut-off at age 14. The government’s Expenditure Review Committee is arguing for 13.

The Albanese government apparently believes a child should be sufficiently independent by high school age for the parent to re-enter the workforce.

The government was being pressured to return the cut-off age to 16 years but that seems to be off the table. The Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, the Greens Party, some independent MPs, and women’s advocates like Anne Summers all asked the government to return the age limit to 16 years.

“These are good people, calling for more spending in the budget,” said Jim Chalmers.

“We take these considerations and these proposals in good faith.

The government cut billions of dollars from already struggling single parents

The government is believed to have saved more than $5 billion over ten years cutting the Parenting Payment. Lifting the age back to 13 or 14 will cost $1.1 billion over the next three years.

The Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he’s trying to be responsible with government finances and assist the neediest.

“We are a Labor government, and we will always try and do what’s right by people.

“I need to make it all add up. I need to do that in a responsible way and that’s what we’re focused on.”

The Liberal Party Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said the government should focus on getting people into the workforce.

“We have over 420,000 vacancies in the economy,” said Mr Taylor. “The most important priority is to help people into work.”

Unfair single parent welfare payments

I was cut off the pension by John Howard, not Julia Gillard.

Australia’s first female prime minister Julia Gillard is known around the world for her famous ‘misogyny speech’ delivered to parliament on 9^th October 2012. That speech has been voted most unforgettable moment on Australian TV.

These days you can buy Misogyny Speech earrings, tea towels, mugs and all sorts of merchandise.

That same afternoon (9^th October 2012) the government passed amendments pushing 80,000 single parents off the parenting payment and onto the lower Newstart payment, up to $110 a week less.

These two events are forever linked in history and muddy Julia Gillard’s legacy among many women and parents.

Terese Edwards, CEO of the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children was at Parliament House on the day of the famous speech but did not see it.

“I wanted to clap and cheer and be part of that empowerment, but I couldn’t,” said Terese Edwards.

Terese was with many other single mums, outside the parliament protesting the cut to the single parent payment.

Prime Minister John Howard took welfare away from struggling single mothers

What is often forgotten is the first part of the story. John Howard introduced the age 8 cut off for the parenting payment in 2006 but grandfathered all current recipients.

That created a strange situation where two single parents with children of the same age could be treated completely differently by Centrelink.

Two mums chatting at the school yard gate could learn one is getting a reasonable deal whilst one is struggling with looking for work and poverty level government payments.

My youngest (of three) children turned 8 years old in 2009. But I had only been receiving a part-payment since 2007. I was cut off on my child’s eighth birthday.

I remember helping a single mum friend in 2010 to move into her newly purchased home, which she could afford because she had been grandfathered.

I remember the school gate conversations and confusion with other single parents about payments work requirements.

John Howard’s actions in cutting the single parent payment left us with two classes of single parent. Julia Gillard fixed that – by putting everyone in the same miserable poverty-stricken boat.

Jason Bryce

Jason is an expert business, finance and consumer issues journalist specialising in personal finance, debt, consumer issues and banking, Jason is now based in Melbourne and works as a journalist . Previously Jason has worked for ABC TV, News Ltd and plenty of magazines and online publishers. You can keep up to date with the latest Centrelink news and information at Jason’s Facebook page, Centrelink News or his website www.jasonbryce.com.au.
Jason is a proud single dad of three children. Follow Jason on Twitter @JasonBryce.

The post Centrelink Single Parenting Payment changes – more money – child age increase expected appeared first on Singlemum.

Expert Opinion Panel

Jason Bryce – Business & Finance Specialist

The ultimate guide to Australian single mum Centrelink benefits & more

UPDATED: May 2023

Centrelink, State Government, Welfare Agencies, Charities, Banks and more…

Single mother guide to assistance

These agencies can assist you with money when you’re a single mum:

1. Centrelink

2. Child Support Agency

3. Crisis agencies / charities

4. Legal Services

5. Banks

What Centrelink benefits am I entitled to?

First rule of Centrelink is don’t go to Centrelink.

You have heard the stories about lines and wait times. Only go to Centrelink if something goes wrong. Very wrong. Or Centrelink asks you to attend.

Get online. Get the app, link Centrelink to your mygov account. If you really need assistance, sit down and call Centrelink and be prepared to wait.

What Centrelink benefits can single parents get?

The main pensions and benefits available for single mums are:

Parenting Payment

Jobseeker (Newstart)

Family Tax Benefits

Child-care benefits

ParentsNext

Crisis Payment

Parents who are eligible for one or more of these payments can also get rent assistance and  some other supplementary payments to top up their income.

How much is Parenting Payment for Single Parents?

The base rate of Parenting Payment Single is currently $862.10, per fortnight, including the pension supplement of $24.70.

You will also get the Energy Supplement of $12.00 per fortnight.

The maximum rate of rent assistance is now $142.80 per fortnight and that is payable when you pay at least $318 per fortnight in rent. You will get a part payment of rent assistance if your rent is over $127.60 per fortnight.

Payment rates are indexed up according to inflation every March and September.

How much is Jobseeker for single parents?

Single mums whose children are all over the age of 8 are not eligible for Parenting Payment but may qualify for JobSeeker. That comes with terms and conditions – like looking for a job and attending JobActive appointments.

The base rate of JobSeeker for single parents is now $676.80per fortnight.

Homeschooling & Foster Carers exemptions

You can get the higher $862.10 per fortnight rate if you are:

How much is Family Tax Benefits for single parents?

Family Tax Benefits come in two variations – Family Tax Benefits Part A and Part B.

Family Tax Benefit Part A

Eligibility for FTB Part A is based on your household income. The amount you get depends on the number and age of your children. Millions of Aussie families qualify for FTB Part A.

FTB Part B is just for one-income households, so many single parents qualify for this additional payment as well.

The maximum rate of Family Tax benefit Part A is now $191.24 for a child 0 to 12 years and $248.78 for a child 13 to 19 years. Children aged 16 – 19 must be studying for you collect FTB Part A.

The Family Tax Part A end-of-financial-year supplement for the 2021-22 financial year, is up to $788.40 for each eligible child, up from $781.10 last financial year. This is used to balance your payments against your income from work.

Family Tax Benefit Part B

Family Tax Benefit Part B is not paid per child, it is one payment for the family, based on your income. The maximum rate of FTB Part B is:

$158.34 per fortnight when your youngest child is under 6. When your youngest turns six, the max rate of FTB Part B falls to $110.60.

The FTB Part B supplement is up to $383.25 per family for the last financial year.

How much are child-care benefits for single parents?

Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate are no longer available. They have been replaced with a payment called the Child Care Subsidy.

Child Care Subsidy is based on your income, the hours you work and an hourly rate cap on child care costs. To work out how much you might be able to get to offset the costs involved in child care, you need to use the Centrelink Payment and Service Finder.

What is ParentsNext?

News Update! The Albanese government announced that ParentsNext will be abolished from 1 July 2024, and all compulsory participation requirements are now cancelled as of the 5th of May 2023.

ParentsNext is a controversial program for single parents with children under the age of 6. It is about training, helping you plan for the future and preparing for work when your children get to school age.

Single mums, of any age, who are selected for ParentsNext, needed to report fortnightly or risk losing their Parenting Payment or Newstart benefits. You may have had to attend interviews, meetings, complete programs and training to receive your benefits on time.

These requirements will no longer be compulsory, or threaten to stop your Centrelink payments.

Read our parents next hack sheet for tips.

What are the ParentsNext eligibility rules?

Centrelink may refer you to take part in ParentsNext if:

Plus one of the following also apply:

If you are invited to be a participant, Centrelink will send you a letter and make an appointment for you with a provider. It is no longer compulsory to attend.

Child Support Agency

The Child Support Agency exists to support single mothers (mostly) by mediating payments between ex-partners. Don’t be scared of it.

If you are not getting money from the other parent of your kids, get online or call CSA. You can also link CSA to your mygov account.

You can ask CSA to collect child support for you. CSA will then ask you for the details of where your ex works. CSA can contact their employer and take child support from their pay.

You can also register with CSA then choose private collection. That means you are telling CSA that your ex is paying you directly. If you partner fails to do so, you can easily report that to CSA.

Centrelink Crisis Payment

If you are eligible for one of Centrelink’s payments, you may also be eligible for a special crisis payment in the event of a major life upheaval. The crisis payment will be equal to one week’s pay of Newstart or Parenting Payment.

Crisis agencies and charities

Charities like the Salvation Army, Anglicare, Mission Australia and Foodbank can help single mums in need. Reach out to these services near you and don’t suffer in silence at home alone. Check out these resources, charities and assistance programs for mums (and others) in crisis.

Women’s Legal Services

Legal services.
You may be able to access free legal assistance. Commonwealth and state governments fund women’s legal services, family violence legal services and legal aid. You can find legal services near you here.

Banks domestic violence & single mum support

Before 2016, banks regularly effectively helped abusive husbands continue the abuse of mothers by withholding money, making closing joint accounts very difficult and being completely inflexible about joint debts.

Now things have changed and all banks are required to help you.

“Domestic violence is a serious community issue and banks have a role to assist customers who may be impacted financially,” said Diane Tate from the Australian Bankers Association in 2016.

“Customers affected by domestic violence can experience abuse of their finances,” said Diane, “It’s important that banks do everything possible to minimise the burden on these customers.

“To help with this, the ABA has developed new guidelines. For example, taking care to keep the customer’s contact details private from a joint-account holder, providing copies of documents free of charge, and referring customers to organisations that offer specialist domestic violence support.”

Escaping Domestic Violence

“Banks don’t need legal evidence of domestic violence, such as an Apprehended Violence Order, to be able to offer assistance to customers,” said Diane Tate.

So yes! Your bank can help you, when your relationship breaks down and later to help get you finances sorted and separated from your ex’s money and accounts.

And while the banks don’t advertise the fact heavily, at least some are handing out cold hard cash to mums escaping troubled home environments.

Commonwealth Bank domestic violence crisis payments

Commonwealth Bank won’t confirm officially but some single mothers are reporting they received $600 in crisis payments when they left their husband. Commonwealth Bank customers can check out the assistance they might be able to receive and have a look at Commbank’s checklist for divorce.

Westpac Bank domestic violence emergency cash

Westpac have put a lot of effort into compiling information and resources for separating parents, especially mums. Westpac can also provide emergency cash for victims of family violence escaping the home.

ANZ Bank separating parents advice

ANZ Bank have an information booklet full of contacts and advice for separating parents and some good recent advice on how to handle your superannuation after separation.

NAB single mum assistance

NAB is also ready to assist separating mums.

The information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. If you or someone you know is in financial stress, contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.

Jason Bryce

Jason is an expert business, finance and consumer issues journalist specialising in personal finance, debt, consumer issues and banking, Jason is now based in Melbourne and works as a journalist . Previously Jason has worked for ABC TV, News Ltd and plenty of magazines and online publishers. You can keep up to date with the latest Centrelink news and information at Jason’s Facebook page, Centrelink News or his website www.jasonbryce.com.au.
Jason is a proud single dad of three children. Follow Jason on Twitter @JasonBryce.

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Expert Opinion Panel

Jason Bryce – Business & Finance Specialist

Am I really single?

At what point does having a relationship affect your Centrelink benefits?

Plenty of couples split up and remain living under the same roof for financial or family reasons. And plenty of people in ‘friends with benefits’ relationships do not consider themselves a couple. Thousands of single mums have a boyfriend or girlfriend but consider themselves single for Centrelink purposes.

So are you really single according to the laws of the land?

Or are you, inadvertently, a ‘welfare cheat’ who will be forced to repay a big debt when the welfare officer checks up on you?

By Jason Bryce

So it might be time to ask yourself…

…am I really single?

Single parents no longer receive a letter or email to their mygov inbox regarding ‘third party verification’ requirements for Parenting Payment Single and Newstart.

However all single Centrelink payments, including Single Parenting Payment (Single parent pension), Jobseeker (Newstart), Family Tax Benefits and Carers Benefit can all be affected by relationship status and household income.

So it might be time to ask yourself – am I really single?

1 – Same sex relationships

Centrelink and other government agencies have recognised same sex relationships as defacto relationships since 1 July 2009. Centrelink say the recent change to the Marriage Act to recognise same sex marriages will not change the way they deal with couples.

“We are not taking any action to review same-sex relationships since the passage of the Marriage Amendment Bill,” a DHS spokesperson told News Limited last week.

However, when the marriage equality bill was passed on 8 December 2017, a Tasmanian mum duly informed Centrelink that she had married a woman overseas in 2016. Centrelink replied with a debt repayment notice for $6,600 in Family Tax Benefits she has claimed since then.

2 – De facto relationships

A departmental spokesperson told Singlemum.com.au that Centrelink’s test of a relationship has five factors to consider:

• Do the couple share finances?
• What is the nature of the household? (Live together?)
• What are the social aspects of the relationship? (Do things together?)
• Do the couple have a sexual relationship?
• Are the couple committed to each other?

A score of three out of five on this test means you are a couple according to Centrelink. Just because you are sleeping together does NOT mean you are couple. Social Security Law says:

“All five factors must be considered. The presence (or absence) of a sexual relationship is considered but does not, by itself, indicate a couple.

And the guidelines also say that the claimant/recipient’s opinion about whether they consider themselves to be in a couple “should be considered but is not sufficient to make a decision.”

3 – Two parents under the same roof

Centrelink recognises that single parents may share living arrangements and care arrangements with their ex-spouses. And if two separated parents are living in the same house, Centrelink applies the same five questions to determine if a relationship exists. Specifically Centrelink officers will ask questions like:

Do you share living spaces like the bedroom, the bathroom, the living room?

Is one parent now regarded more like a boarder or flat sharer?

Do you do your own shopping, cooking, cleaning, household maintenance and gardening?

Are your family and close friends aware of the relationship breakdown?

Do you visit people and go out socially together?

If you are genuinely separated and sharing the house and care of the children, Centrelink are understanding and no, the welfare officers will not visit you to check in your sock drawers. A Departmental spokeswoman told Singlemum.com.au that:

“All relationships are different, and for this reason, the specific circumstances of a claimant’s current relationship status are assessed to determine whether they receive the single or partnered rate of Parenting Payment.

“As part of this assessment, information is gathered about the claimant—both from them and from other sources.”

Can Centrelink call the school to check up on my relationship status?

Social Security Law says schools, child-care centres, sports organisations, etc. are not to be contacted by Centrelink as part of any investigation into a de facto relationship unless the fraud team are investigating and prosecution is likely or there is an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Centrelink rules about relationships are both generous and understanding but equally unforgiving if you break them. Be alert but not alarmed because single mums can easily be caught out and branded a welfare cheat.

Jason Bryce
Business & Finance Journalist

Have your say on this story – what do you think? Make a comment below!

Comment on this story below

Australian single mums – your comments are valued here! Tell us your opinion by commenting your thoughts below!

Do you have a single mum opinion, vent or story of your own?

If you’d liked to see your own single mum story or experience published anonymously here on the website, simply email it to us – short or long – using our contact page business form here and if approved, we can edit and publish it for you! (Successful submissions will not be paid)

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If you want to join the general chat, ask questions or vent about being an Aussie single mum, join our Australian single mum support group or our Australian Centrelink mum support group, or our Australian Child Support mum support group.

You can join the Australian Single Mum Support Facebook Group here.

Jason Bryce – Jason is a business and finance journalist with 20 years experience.Keep up to date with the latest Centrelink news and information at Jason’s Facebook page here

The post When do I need to tell Centrelink I have a partner? appeared first on Singlemum.

This Facebook post had many mums reacting and commenting – there are billions of dollars worth of child support owed in Australia- this mum’s experience may help you recover a child support debt too!

The best of the Australian single mum Facebook support group

I just won several year’s worth of owed child support – even though my child is now an adult. I hope other separated mums can use the same free methods I describe here to get their own owed child support.

I am writing here about my child support evasion struggles with my Ex, and how I got a lump sum of all the money owed to me by using Child Support Australia (CSA).

My daughter turned 20 this year, so it has been two years since she turned 18 and Child Support Australia (CSA) stopped calculating owed child support payments from my ex. They child support owed totalled over $30,000.

“I called Child Support and begged them to help…”

There were times when I was calling the Child Support Agency in desperation asking for them to do more – but somehow there wasn’t much they could do because of the so called loop holes which enabled deadbeat dads to side-step paying.

Child Support froze my ex’s bank account

For example, in 2018 Child Support froze my ex’s bank account. Although he had enough money in his account to pay off his CS debt,  CSA failed to get it withdrawn from his bank account because his account was a joint account with his new wife.

How to stop your Ex at the airport

I had been hearing that my Ex was travelling overseas regularly – as frequently as every few months. It was really frustrating to know that he was spending fun money on himself and not on basic necessity money for our child.

An airport ban – the Departure Probation Order

I decided to ask the Child Support Agency if they could do a Departure Probation Order (DPO) on my Ex.

A DPO is a legal order that would stop him from leaving the country for as long as he had an unpaid child support debt.

CSA agreed that they could put a Departure Order on my ex, but only if I could give them precise information, such as the date and time of my Ex’s travels.

This was an impossible condition for me to meet.
I live in Sydney and my Ex was on the other side of Australia, in Perth. I didn’t see any of his friends anymore and only heard about his travels overseas third-hand after they had happened.

So I gave up on it.

I thought it was just impossible.

That was, until a couple of months ago…

My Ex got banned from traveling

A friend of mine called and told me she had heard that my ex got DPO’d at the airport!

It was such a joy to hear, and I felt justice had finally been done.

My Ex realised he was caught! He couldn’t travel freely anymore like he wanted to.

He got someone to get in touch with me. He told them to offer me $15.000 as a settlement – less than half the child support what was owed – and get him released from the DPO.

I refused to settle for less child support than I was owed

I told them under no circumstances would I accept any of his offers other than the full amount of Child Support owed.

Meanwhile I got in touch with a Legal Aid solicitor and decided I would await the CSA’s decision on what the outcome of the DPO situation would be.

The Legal Aid solicitor told me that he was surprised that I had been able to obtain a Departure Probation Order, because they were usually only done for amounts greater than my thirty thousand dollar debt. But when he learned that my Ex had hardly paid me any child support over the years, he said he understood why the DPO had been put on him.

Child support evaders get penalised by CSA

Child support payers who refuse to pay get penalised by the CSA. Each non payment attracts penalty’s – plus interest.

So the child support debt can accumulate to an even larger amount over the years.

My Legal Aid solicitor estimated my Ex’s debt could be anywhere between $100.000 to $300.000 – most probably the latter amount, and so the justification for a DPO to be ordered against him.

I told the CSA that I had learned about the DPO from a friend. They confirmed the DPO, but didn’t tell me much. My Legal Aid solicitor told me that the CSA were said probably negotiating with him.

My Ex had to pay or go to court

He thought that the CSA probably gave him an ultimatum.
For him to pay the debt owed and they would waive their own considerable penalty charges on top and lift the DPO.

Or if he still refused to pay the debt, they would take him to court which would add another $150.000 to $200.000 worth of court fees on top of the already large amount of debt and added penalties and interest.

My Legal Aid solicitor’s parting words to me was “it looks like you will get the money soon.”

This morning I jumped up from my seat when I saw the bank notification of the deposited amount of the child support debt owed – paid in full!

It was such a lovely Birthday present to me!

Don’t give up on your unpaid child support

So don’t give up pursuing what is yours. Keep getting your child support amount assessed. Don’t lose hope about non-payments, because I have got the whole amount in full today.

I hope this will raise your hope and belief in getting your long-owed child support justice.

An Australian single mum and member of the Australian Single Mum Support Facebook Group 

Comment on this story below

Did this story interest you? Tell us your opinion by commenting your thoughts below!

Do you have a single mum opinion, vent or story of your own?

If you’d liked to see your own single mum story or experience published anonymously here on the website, simply email it to us – short or long – using our contact page business form here and if approved, we can edit and publish it for you! (Successful submissions will not be paid)

Join our single mum support Facebook groups!

If you want to join the general chat, ask questions or vent about being an Aussie single mum, join our Australian single mum support group or our Australian Centrelink mum support group, or our Australian Child Support mum support group.

You can join the Australian Single Mum Support Facebook Group here.

The Child Support Agency Australia official website can be found here

The post I got Child Support Australia to put a travel ban on my ex until he paid up appeared first on Singlemum.

This article includes information regarding many common Christmas custody issue questions, including…

• Can I stop my ex from taking my child overseas?
• What do I do if I my parenting order has been breached?
• What are some Christmas coparenting custody arrangements examples?
• What if my child has been taken overseas without my consent?
  And more…

Rebecca Dahl, Lawyer

Christmas and the summer holidays are widely regarded as exciting and memorable times for families. However, separated parents are often fraught with questions about child arrangements and face difficulties adjusting to altered traditions. This can make an otherwise exciting time of year stressful and emotionally charged.

With this in mind, there are some things you can do as a separated parent to reduce stress and make the most of the festive season.

Reaching an agreement on arrangements for your children

When negotiating arrangements for children over Christmas and other special occasions, there are several important considerations to keep in mind:

• To ensure that any issues are dealt with effectively, it is best to initiate discussions and plan your arrangements early.
• Ensure your negotiation sets out clear times for how your child will spend time on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve or other important days or events for your family.
• Consider the entire summer holiday period. Will the arrangements beyond Christmas Day be as usual?
• To avoid any confusion and unnecessary conflict on Christmas Day, try and have the agreed arrangements in writing and do your part to stick to them. It is also wise to try and agree to refrain from any negative or emotionally charged conversations in front of or within earshot of the children.
• Consider the child changeover details, including practicalities such as the distance between parents on Christmas.
• Agree on what you will do if there are hiccups – like traffic delays or illness – particularly COVID, which may require isolation.

Christmas coparenting custody arrangements examples

To guide your negotiation, aim for a practical and child-centered arrangement, which might mean compromising on what parents want.

An alternating arrangement is a common arrangement to consider and works for many families. This is often a good place to start the negotiation. For example, the children may spend from noon Christmas Eve to noon Christmas Day with one parent and from noon Christmas Day to noon Boxing Day with the other.

For other families, children spending the entire day with a parent can work better, rather than splitting the day up, and avoiding travel on a busy day.

Other families will share the ‘Santa experience’ together and then go their own ways for the rest of the day with the children as above.

Given the sentimental nature parents often attach to Christmas and the holiday season, it is understandable that reaching an agreement can be difficult when parents have recently separated.

Family Dispute Resolution Conference (Mediation)

If negotiating between yourselves fails, the next step is to attend a Family Dispute Resolution Conference (Mediation), which is often the best way to resolve issues that are so emotionally charged.

Here, a mediator third party assists you in having a productive conversation during negotiations.

What do I do if Mediation fails?

If no agreement is reached by yourselves or through mediation, you may apply to obtain parenting orders for your Christmas arrangements from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Please note, there is a cut-off date for getting your Christmas and holiday arrangement issue decided by the court.

Rule 5.01A of the Family Law Rules 2004, provides that parenting order applications for the Christmas school holiday period (including arrangements for special days) must be filed before 4:00 pm on the second Friday in November. This is something you may need to have in mind for 2023 if Christmas 2022 doesn’t pan out as you hoped.

The date for 2022 has passed, however, your matter could still be heard if deemed an emergency, including in the case of family violence or child abuse, but the urgency of Christmas Day in and of itself does not meet this threshold. At this point in the year, the best arrangement is mediation and ensuring the following year your arrangements are considered early.

What do I do if I my parenting order has been breached?

Courts can penalise a party for breach of a parenting order.

A party who believes their parenting order has been breached can apply to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia with a Contravention Application.

When determining whether a contravention has occurred, and if so, whether the party had a reasonable excuse for the breach, the courts will consider all relevant facts and law. Depending on the facts of the case and the severity of the breach, the courts may penalise a party by ordering them to provide make up time for the other parent, pay a fine, participate in community service, enter into a bond, etc.

Other important considerations

Travelling interstate or overseas

It is not uncommon for children to travel with one or both parents during the school holidays, especially given the context of the previous two years and the COVID-19 travel restrictions limiting these opportunities. However, for a child to travel overseas, consent from both parents is required.

Legal consequences can ensue if this is not obtained. Parents should also communicate with each other about interstate travel and reach an agreement on which parent should remain in possession of the child/children’s passport(s).

What if my child has been taken overseas without my consent?

If you believe your child/children has/have been taken overseas without your consent, there are a few options available to you.

If you believe your child’s welfare and/or safety has been compromised, the first point of action would be to report the matter to your local police immediately.

The next step would be to contact the Australian Federal Police for advice on placing your child/children’s name(s) on the Family Law Watchlist. By placing a child’s name on the Family Law Watchlist the police will be notified of any potential attempts to remove a child out of the country in contravention of court orders.

Can I stop my ex from taking my child overseas?

If your child/children has/have not yet left Australia, it may be possible to prevent them from doing so.

It would also be advisable for a parent who believes their child has been or may be taken overseas to obtain legal advice. A lawyer can assist you in obtaining recovery orders or any other court orders that may be required. A recovery order is provided to all officers of Australian Federal Police and all state and territory police officers to assist in locating and recovering a child/children.

What do I do if things go wrong?

Ask for help! There are many support services available to help you and take comfort in the fact that these types of concerns are not uncommon.

Seek advice from a lawyer.

Some problems to anticipate during the Christmas period may include an ex-partner threatening to keep the children longer than agreed or taking a child without permission.

If you feel you or your children are unsafe, please contact the police on 000.

Some of the services you can reach out to include:

• 1800 RESPECT – Support services for people who have experienced domestic, family or sexual violence.
• Lifeline (13 11 14) – A 24/7 National Crisis Support Line that offers support for victims of family violence.
• Relationships Australia (1300 364 277) – Support, family violence prevention and counselling services accessible to all Australians.
• Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) – A 24/7 online counselling service for people aged 5 to 25 who may have experienced or be experiencing family violence.

Rebecca Dahl, Lawyer
Nicholes Family Lawyers Melbourne | Geelong

If you would like to discuss parenting arrangements, or receive more tailored advice please contact Nicholes Family Lawyers where we are familiar with assisting clients with a range of issues including child arrangements for Christmas Day and the school holidays. We have skilled lawyers available over the Christmas period to help.
For further information please visit the official website : https://www.nicholeslaw.com.au

This article contains only general information, correct at the date of publication. For advice regarding your own personal circumstances, always seek individual advice from a qualified professional. Read the full Singlemum.com.au Disclaimer here

The post Christmas holidays custody coparenting problems for separated parents appeared first on Singlemum.

• who is a home or distance educator of child/ren in their care.

The current rate stated is $880.20 as at August 2022.

Use this information in your call or visit to Centrelink- many Centrelink staff members are unaware it exists.

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