Stopping parenting payments.

In Australia women (or men) who are stay at home are eligible for what's called a parenting payment, which is basically a payment given by the government to help cover the costs of only having one partner working. In previous years this was reduced after the youngest child turned six and became of school age.

Now however the government is going to completely cut this allowance when the youngest child turns six for parents who are partnered, and eight for single parents. They are going to force these people onto unemployment (Newstart) which comes with it strict guidelines like compulsory training, interviews, and voluntary work.

Do you think its fair of the government to force stay at home parents to basically get employment or completely lose their benefits.?

Discuss

Ah ya. Why should the government pay for someone to stay home?

That is somewhat similar to our welfare program. & Yes I think it's completely fair to "force" parents into being an adult & working for their money.

I don't see why not. I think being a stay at home parent can be very benifical to a certain age and extent so I would say around 6 is way longer than most people do it for anyway because the child is in school.

Quoting CerealMakerWife♥:" Ah ya. Why should the government pay for someone to stay home? "

 
I am a SAHM with one income I don't get any money from the government. If the family cant survive on one income then both people should be working.

But what if they have a dissabiliy

Maybe its because Im from America, and we don't have that here... But why should the government have to pay someone because they want to stay at home with their children? I'm not against being a SAHM, I am one, but I choose to be one until I graduate college. I wouldn't be home if we needed the extra income from elsewhere.

Also, I work a VERY demanding & stressful job... FULL TIME. I don't qualify for any public assistance because I am over income, & away from my child 40hrs a week.
It's sickening when I have to help customers who are complaining about being over income. I helped a woman today who was denied benefits for being over income.... she sits at home all day collecting social security for herself & her 2 children.... & brings in MORE income than I even do. & She had the nerve to call me names. SMH.

Quoting The (super kinky) Master:" In Australia women (or men) who are stay at home are eligible for what's called a parenting payment, ... [snip!] ... fair of the government to force stay at home parents to basically get employment or completely lose their benefits.? Discuss"

I get parenting payment but most of the times i report DHs earnings i get nothing, on the very odd occasion if he has taken a day off or what not i get 100 bucks or so.
So really I could do fine without it and Id probably be fine looking for a job once LO is in primary school anyway!

Um, of course thats fair. How does it not make sense to expect them to earn money to support their own kids?
I feel like this is obvious. It's what we've been doing all along!.

Quoting ma ♥:" Also, I work a VERY demanding & stressful job... FULL TIME. I don't qualify for any public assistance ... [snip!] ... for herself & her 2 children.... & brings in MORE income than I even do. & She had the nerve to call me names. SMH."

She gets social secuirty for a reason so I don't see the problem there but bitching because it isn't enough isn't going to fix anything.

Quoting The (super kinky) Master:" In Australia women (or men) who are stay at home are eligible for what's called a parenting payment, ... [snip!] ... fair of the government to force stay at home parents to basically get employment or completely lose their benefits.? Discuss"

i think it's fair. I believe in self-reliance. having the government support a lifestyle choice doesnt jive in my world.

That's nice that u can get paid to stay home for 6 yrs as it is. Why can't you work after they're in school? In the u.s. you have to work or deal with one income. Nobody comes in from the government to pay you to stay home. It's quite unfortunate but we have no choice.

Quoting gina buckley:" But what if they have a dissabiliy"

disability is completely different but here its really difficult to get on disability, the government would simply retrain you and put you back to work.

Quoting ShannonLovesJasper+1:" I get parenting payment but most of the times i report DHs earnings i get nothing, on the very odd ... [snip!] ... so. So really I could do fine without it and Id probably be fine looking for a job once LO is in primary school anyway! "

I got $50 a fortnight when I was at uni.