[Charliemex]

My partner is on centrelink while we are living together and she has not reported yet. Because I have an international scholarship not related to the Australian government at all, the money is considered as not taxable (scholarship from a foreign country) and I am an international student in a full time course. I am not working an my only income is the scholarship that pays my fees and living expenses just for me.

Does this affect her payments of centrelink?

Does she has to report it?

Thanks

 

[ampk]

Yes it will effect her and she will need to report it.

It will be reduced not because of your income if any, but because it will change from a single to a couple payment.

There is a way to request a waiver or something but I don't recall what it is, I am sure some of the other members here know more about it.

 

[ampk]

Keep in mind that Australian government agencies (Medicare, Tax office, Centerlink & Immigration) can and do share information.

So it will not be wise to be applying for a Partner Visa (in a committed relationship with lots of evidence) but telling Centerlink your single.

 

[Mish]

Keep in mind that Australian government agencies (Medicare, Tax office, Centerlink & Immigration) can and do share information.

So it will not be wise to be applying for a Partner Visa (in a committed relationship with lots of evidence) but telling Centerlink your single.

I heard that immigration are data matching with Centrelink now and using it as grounds to refuse the visa. Not sure if there is any truth to it, but IMO it is not something that should be risked.

 

[Charliemex]

I heard that immigration are data matching with Centrelink now and using it as grounds to refuse the visa. Not sure if there is any truth to it, but IMO it is not something that should be risked.

Thank you everybody. I think the best will be to report that situation.

Before my student visa expires, how much time before it does should I apply for the partner visa? I have tried to find any information about how much time the government requires my application before my student visa expires and I have not found it.

 

[Maggie-May24]

The government doesn't care how far in advance you lodge your partner visa, however you shouldn't leave it to the last day in case there are technical issues with the system so you should give yourself at least a week's grace period.

 

[ampk]

I would get it in as soon as possible to avoid any sudden changes in policy that make for drastic changes.

 

[markw]

in the past I have been on a centrelink pension and also had homestay students that paid around $250 a week, this was not considered as income so neither centrelink nor dept of housing could take it into consideration, same goes for your scholarship money I think

 

[ampk]

I don't think the scholarship income will be counted as income at all.

The thing is how Centerlink deal with payments.

Single or Family.

In a singles payment lets say they pay you $300 per week.

In a Family 2 people if not working get paid individually, but less in total say $250 each so $500 total.

If one gets a part time job they may get $0 per week but the partner up to $250 depending on the other persons income.

Centerlink don't take into account that partners can be on temp visas with no work rights or access to that otherwise available to most, the second Centerlink payment.

I don't see the system as fair in this regard, but I know it can be that you can still get the same rate as the single even if you are in a partner relationship. I just don't remember how but I know it is at the discretion of the Centerlink staff.

 

[hisbooboo]

It's called section 24, and from what I've heard is extremely hard to get.
Once my husband and I married I went from single parenting pension to new start partnered where I wasn't even eligible for s24 because I apparently earned too much, i only earn around $500 a week, and this was when my husband was on a visitor visa so he couldn't even work. I am now only on FTB and because I 'earn too much' New start was cancelled.

The lady I spoke with said its very hard to prove severe financial hardship to get section 24.

 

[ampk]

And when you earn nothing they throw Family Tax Benefits at you.

When I sold my share of a fuel company at a good profit I did not have to pay any tax on that money received as I had the shares for longer than 2 years.

I then did not pay myself from my other company mostly because I was to lazy to do the paperwork and I was winding down that company anyway. So as it turned out I had only received an income of a few thousand dollars for that financial year.

I was paid fortnightly Family Tax Benefits based on the estimated income I had given and think that was around $400. After I submitted my tax return the balance of the Family Tax Benefits was paid, it was something like $22,000.

I was shocked to say the least so had them check it. Confirmed correct. Next tax year similar.