I went onto the online estimator today as we haven't been claiming any benefits for the past 18 months as we knew that DH would be overpaid due to having two bonus payments in one financial year so we just chose not to get any weekly payments and I never bothered to change it. This financial year his income has reduced by that added bonus so I decided to do the estimator with his new income and it says that we would be eligible for FTBA and FTB B - even if only close to the base amounts.

Well I rang up to change our income estimate and with the FTB it is reasonably close to the threshold but still under (I estimated DH's income over what we think as well) and told the guy that I wasn't sure if we would claim fortnightly payments or just wait until the end of the financial year and get them to pay us what they owe after DH lodges his tax return.

Well the guy said that we were only just eligible for FTB B and that we should just wait until after the end of the financial year to claim in case we are pushed over the threshold. I didn't really think about it but after I got off the phone I wondered how the eligibility can be different from the online estimator to ringing them? I was also wondering because of the carbon tax payment that if he has said we arent' eligible for FTBA but we actually are, would we still get it paid at the end of the financial year?

I want to get it sorted out before the baby as we may still be eligible for the baby bonus which would mean I could put it towards a solar system. So I am still none the wiser as to what we will be entitled too!

I just don't understand how they can vary so much in what they tell me online and on the phone!!!

There may be other factors which the online estimator can't take into account.

I guess any income estimates you have provided within the year would affect your payments and the operator would be able to adjust the payments in case of any over payment.

At the end of the financial year you will be assessed and will be paid any FTB you are entitled to.

If you are not receiving fortnightly payments this year you an change it for next financial year and that way be 'active' in the system for when the new baby is born.

According to the Herald Sun, those of us who choose to zero rate our Family Tax Benefit and get it paid annually after lodging our income tax returns, will get the carbon tax payment/s (if eligible) at the end of NEXT financial year - 2012/2013.