Maybe not Parenting Payment, but OP could certainly try getting other forms of help.
OP you may be eligible for Family Tax Benefit and JobSeeker Payment. Try using the [Payment and Service Finder](https://www.centrelink.gov.au/custsite_pfe/pymtfinderest/paymentFinderEstimatorPage.jsf?wec-appid=pymtfinderest&wec-locale=en_US#stay), it'll give you an indication of what you could be eligible for and roughly the amount of assistance you could get.
Not sure why there's downvotes.
OP mentioned a $1600 fortnightly average which might imply a fluctuating income. If their income fluctuates enough (by $218) then they may still be eligible for JobSeeker Payment. If this is the case then OP will at least benefit from a Health Care Card.
Either way, OP would probably be eligible for Family Tax Benefit.
I personally wouldn’t go down the jobseeker route. It would need be more than a $300 dollar drop in income (current complete cut off is $1,296.34 per fornight) for OP to get $1 or something measly like that. But it would mean rent assistance on those fortnight however it would only be ~$170. Another big catch is jobseeker is cancelled after 6 nil payments. So if these big drops are further apart than that, that’s a new application OP would have to wait to process. Not to mention dealing with the mutual obligations.
The income limit for a [single, with a dependent child younger than 16, but not the principal carer is $1,381.17, not $1,296.34](https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/income-and-assets-tests-for-jobseeker-payment?context=51411#a1).
At the end of the day it'll be up to OP to decide what's best for them and their family.
if you're going 50/50 then you might be able to talk them into splitting the family tax benefit, but if she has custody for more nights per fortnight then you won't be eligible for it
Only one parent can receive parenting payment. But the family tax benefit will get split between you if your doing close to 50/50. Just want to point out make sure you or she contacts and start the process of child support. Because it will affect how much ftb the primary carer will receive. If you don’t apply for it could end up with a huge debt.
You should be eligible for some rent assistance though. If you have more than 18 percent custody or something (not 100 percent on exact figures). I know I adjusted it for my sons Dad so he was eligible for rent assistance. I think it works out every second weekend custody arrangement is the approximate percentage to get rent assistance.
Will you be the principal carer of the child?
It will go close to 50/50 but she might just have a little bit more
Then unfortunately you won’t be eligible for parenting payment
Maybe not Parenting Payment, but OP could certainly try getting other forms of help. OP you may be eligible for Family Tax Benefit and JobSeeker Payment. Try using the [Payment and Service Finder](https://www.centrelink.gov.au/custsite_pfe/pymtfinderest/paymentFinderEstimatorPage.jsf?wec-appid=pymtfinderest&wec-locale=en_US#stay), it'll give you an indication of what you could be eligible for and roughly the amount of assistance you could get.
$1600 a fortnight (OP posts history suggests they are full time too) would be too high to receive any jobseeker.
Not sure why there's downvotes. OP mentioned a $1600 fortnightly average which might imply a fluctuating income. If their income fluctuates enough (by $218) then they may still be eligible for JobSeeker Payment. If this is the case then OP will at least benefit from a Health Care Card. Either way, OP would probably be eligible for Family Tax Benefit.
I personally wouldn’t go down the jobseeker route. It would need be more than a $300 dollar drop in income (current complete cut off is $1,296.34 per fornight) for OP to get $1 or something measly like that. But it would mean rent assistance on those fortnight however it would only be ~$170. Another big catch is jobseeker is cancelled after 6 nil payments. So if these big drops are further apart than that, that’s a new application OP would have to wait to process. Not to mention dealing with the mutual obligations.
The income limit for a [single, with a dependent child younger than 16, but not the principal carer is $1,381.17, not $1,296.34](https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/income-and-assets-tests-for-jobseeker-payment?context=51411#a1). At the end of the day it'll be up to OP to decide what's best for them and their family.
Yep my job seeker is zero
Thanks will try that cheers
if you're going 50/50 then you might be able to talk them into splitting the family tax benefit, but if she has custody for more nights per fortnight then you won't be eligible for it
Only one parent can receive parenting payment. But the family tax benefit will get split between you if your doing close to 50/50. Just want to point out make sure you or she contacts and start the process of child support. Because it will affect how much ftb the primary carer will receive. If you don’t apply for it could end up with a huge debt.
You should be eligible for some rent assistance though. If you have more than 18 percent custody or something (not 100 percent on exact figures). I know I adjusted it for my sons Dad so he was eligible for rent assistance. I think it works out every second weekend custody arrangement is the approximate percentage to get rent assistance.
Thanks so he just has every second weekend? 2 nights a fortnight?
Yep 2 nights a fortnight.