Immigrationboards.com - Archive

i think If you make more than A$1200 per Mth, it would be hard for you to get it.... or if you have assets valued at certain amount , would be hard to qualify.

If you come to Aus with independent class, I believe the gov expects you to get a job and not asking for aid.

Hope that helps .

In general, social security payments from Centrelink are only available to people who reside in Australia and are either Australian citizens or holders of permanent visas. In addition, most social security payments and concession cards, except Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Benefit, have a two-year newly arrived resident's waiting period. There are some exemptions, e.g. refugee and humanitarian visa holders. Some pension payments have their own 'qualifying residence' requirements with some exceptions. Also, some services are only available when receiving a payment from Centrelink.

Follow these links. That's where you can find information about all benefits you might be interested in.

www. centrelink.gov.au www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/factors/newly_arrived.htm www.hecs.gov.au www.immi.gov.au www.hic.gov.au or www.medicare.gov.au - for info about Medicare

I hope this will help, but unfortunately I also have to remind you that for the first 2 years you and your family will be eligible only for limited benefits i.e. Medicare, Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Benefit, Advanced English For Migrants Program (AEMP), Interpreter Services, The National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR-who can help if you are an overseas trained professional and have permanent residence in Australia).

What Residence Requirements does Parenting Payment have?

To lodge a claim and qualify for Parenting Payment, you must be:

1)In Australia on the day you lodge your claim; and
2)An Australian resident - this means you are living in Australia on a permanent basis and you are either:
A)An Australian citizen; or
B)The holder of a permanent resident visa; or
C)The holder of a Special Category Visa - someone who arrived on a NZ passport and who is not affected by the changes to residence requirements; AND
D)Have lived in Australia for long enough to satisfy qualifying residence periods or the newly arrived resident's waiting period (whichever applies to the payment being claimed). Note: there are some exemptions.

To lodge a claim and qualify for Child Care Benefit, you and your children must be:

1)In Australia on the day you lodge your claim; and
2)An Australian resident - this means you have been living in Australia on a permanent basis and you are either:
A)An Australian citizen; or
B)The holder of a permanent resident visa; or
C)The holder of Special Category Visa - someone who arrived on a NZ passport; or
D)The holder of a particular temporary visa - these are known as "spouse provisional" or "interdependency" or "temporary protection" visas.

In other words, you might be eligible for "Child Care Benefits" but you and your wife must find a job first.

For more info on Child Care Benefit go to www.centerlink.gov.au, then click on "Search" and type: Child Care Benefit.

My advice: go there and find any job that you can live on, then after 2 years it would be a lot easier. After 2 years you will be eligible for HECS, so you can consider some further studies (i.e. postgraduate studies) and this might help you to find a job in your field (in case you did not find one by then). What I'm telling you is that even if you are a professional, you will encounter certain problems in finding a job in your field, especially if you are a holder of a degree earned overseas.

As for social security benefits after your being there for required 2 years: you will have to prove them that you sent 3 application to 3 different companies in 2 weeks, and you did not get a job (This procedure has to be repeated every 2 week), and in that case you will be eligible for approximately 600$/month + some additional amount for housing. Also after 2 years you will be eligible for Parenting Payment, and you wife will be eligible for additional social security payment if you are both unemployed. If one of you is employed, for example you, than your wife's social security eligibility, and amount of Parenting Payment will depend on the amount of your salary.

I'm sorry for bringing you bad news, but that's how the system works. Lots of people used Australian system before, and that's probably why they eventually changed it.

Regards,

Jasmine
jasmina_hajduk@yahoo.com