Bye bye LAFHA, no more gravy train

hussey · 10-02-2012 8:41pm

digiman wrote: »

Just got my first payslip there today and got the full LAHA on it, $650 for rent and $289 for food. I will be supporting my girlfriend until she gets a job so thats why I got extra for the food allowance. I will have to change it back once she gets employed I assume.

Will she also be entitled to claim $650 for rent also? She is a de-facto of mine under my 457.

Also, if I apply for PR next year will I have to pay back all the LAHA that I received?

She can claim LAFHA only if her employer allows her to. You both can't claim 650 rent allowance. She can only claim her rent, if you are paying 650 then you can claim that. You don't have to pay it back if you claim PR. but as soon as you apply it stops.

karl bracken · 11-02-2012 3:46pm

I wonder how it will work after June, like whos responsible for stopping the LAFHA.
If you employers dont stop it in time do they have to pay any tax bills or tax adjustments for you?
Or will it be the responsibility of the employee and you could be left with a big tax bill after June 2013 if you dont have it stopped?!

spanish_sahara · 03-04-2012 1:03am

karl bracken wrote: »

I wonder how it will work after June, like whos responsible for stopping the LAFHA.
If you employers dont stop it in time do they have to pay any tax bills or tax adjustments for you?
Or will it be the responsibility of the employee and you could be left with a big tax bill after June 2013 if you dont have it stopped?!

Has anyone spoken to their employers about this yet?

Legend100 · 03-04-2012 11:01am

spanish_sahara wrote: »

Has anyone spoken to their employers about this yet?

I work in the tax dept of a company in Sydney and we have let our HR/payroll staff know that all LAFHAs are to stop come the first of July. The HR/payroll depts have let the relevant employees knows the situation so I would make an enquiry with your employer to check that all is in place

Lafha (at the meoment) hasnt actually got anything to do with tax, it is an FBT exemption and when the regulations are amended in July, any Lahf benefit will no longer be an exempt FBT benefit but rather taxable as salary.

Word of warning too people that you must remember that your package initially was probably budgeted at "x" and when the benefit is given as salary, this will bring on-costs such as payroll tax and workers comp so if your company has tight salary budgets, you may be in for a reduction in salary to cover the on-costs

tezzy_v2 · 14-04-2012 1:57pm

Hi guys

Basically with LAFHA there are now two options come 1 July -
1) the employer takes the FBT hit on the amounts paid (this will depend on whether you are being reimbursed for the rent or whether you are given an allowance ie a cash amount to cover a reasonable amount of rent)
2) the employer lets you take the tax hit on LAFHA

Option 1 is not likely going to happen in most instances unless you have massive bargaining power with your employer.

Option 2 is the way most employers are being advised to proceed.

EG I claim LAFHA for both myself and my spouse - we pay 560 a week. With LAFHA gone we will be down over 1k a month take home. That is a lot of money....

The provisions relating to LAFHA have not been written into law yet - it is expected they will only be released on Budget night (in May) However it is not expected that there will be any changes to what has already been communicated.

One thing to note is if you are a permanent resident of Australia and you have a home in Brisbane let's say and you maintain a home in WA for instance for work - you will still qualify for LAFHA. Some people will still get it. Most of us Irish on 457s won't.

Watch this space.....how do they think they can cut salary's by for most people is going to be between 10-20% and not get backlash?

jackbhoy · 14-04-2012 2:21pm

tezzy_v2 wrote: »

Watch this space.....how do they think they can cut salary's by for most people is going to be between 10-20% and not get backlash?

Backlash against employers or government? The latter couldn't care less as most affected, like yourself, don't have a vote. Plus closing tax loopholes like this will be pretty popular with the average Aussie.

mandrake04 · 14-04-2012 3:45pm

tezzy_v2 wrote: »

Watch this space.....how do they think they can cut salary's by for most people is going to be between 10-20% and not get backlash?

well maybe they are thinking you have 2 options.

a) you just wear it.

b) you are entitled to leave your job if you are not happy and they sponsor someone else under a new contract for the same money and not mention anything about LAFHA.

kdevitt · 08-05-2012 11:51am

(Appears to be) Great news in the budget for anyone currently receiving the LAFHA -

The Government will further reform the tax concession for living‑away‑from‑home allowances and benefits, by ensuring it can only be used for the expenses of people who are legitimately maintaining a second home in addition to their actual home, for a maximum period of 12 months.

This reform will apply from 1 July 2012 for arrangements entered into after 7.30pm (AEST) on 8 May 2012, and from 1 July 2014 for arrangements entered into prior to that time.

mandrake04 · 08-05-2012 2:25pm

If you are a non-resident worker…
It's all bad news. Firstly, most of you will lose the Living Away from Home Allowance (see below), and from 1 July all non-resident workers will have to pay a blanket 32.5 per cent tax rate – regardless of whether they're low income earners.

If you receive LAFHA…
You're not laughing anymore and will have to say cheerio to the lucrative Living-Away-From-Home-Allowance.

The new reforms mean it can only be used for the expenses of people who are legitimately maintaining a second home in addition to their actual home. So, Ireland or England doesn't count as a second home for most people who are here on a working holiday and 457 visas. It was good while it lasted - sorry guys.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/money/federal-budget-2012-what-it-means-for-you/story-fn84gmep-1226350235644
http://www.news.com.au/money/federal-budget/federal-budget-2012-what-it-means-for-you/story-fn84fgcm-1226350235644
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/money/federal-budget-2012-what-it-means-for-you/story-fn84gkmz-1226350235644

karl bracken · 08-05-2012 2:48pm

Does this 32.5% apply to people being taxed as residents but on a 457?

Or does this mean the old tiered system will apply with the higher 18200 tax free treshold?

Or is every non resident just going yo hand over 32.5% of everything no matter what visa or how your being taxed?!

Mellor · 08-05-2012 3:49pm

karl bracken wrote: »

Does this 32.5% apply to people being taxed as residents but on a 457?

Or does this mean the old tiered system will apply with the higher 18200 tax free treshold?

Or is every non resident just going yo hand over 32.5% of everything no matter what visa or how your being taxed?!

You are confusing resident and permanant resident I think.

People on 457 aren't "taxed as residents", they are residents. You are a resident if you are living here. No matter what visa. For tax purposes I think they have the bar set at 6 months. Flying out at Xmas, I was told to check the resident box on the immigration departure slip as my house was in oz etc.

PR is the right to permanently reside here.

mandrake04 · 08-05-2012 4:01pm

This explains it

Generally, you are an Australian resident for tax purposes if any of the following applies:

you have always lived in Australia
you moved to Australia and live here permanently
you have been in Australia continuously for six months or more, and for most of the time you have been
in the same job, and
living in the same place

you have been in Australia for more than half of the financial year, unless
your usual home is overseas, and
you do not intend to live in Australia.

kdevitt · 08-05-2012 9:54pm

mandrake04 wrote: »

If you receive LAFHA…
You're not laughing anymore and will have to say cheerio to the lucrative Living-Away-From-Home-Allowance.

The new reforms mean it can only be used for the expenses of people who are legitimately maintaining a second home in addition to their actual home. So, Ireland or England doesn't count as a second home for most people who are here on a working holiday and 457 visas. It was good while it lasted - sorry guys

If you have a arrangement in place before May 8th at 7:30 PM and receive LAHFA - you continue to receive it until July 2014.

http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/overview/html/overview_35.htm

Feelgood · 09-05-2012 12:21am

kdevitt wrote: »

If you have a arrangement in place before May 8th at 7:30 PM and receive LAHFA - you continue to receive it until July 2014.

http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/overview/html/overview_35.htm

I read this too, though am struggling to figure out if this applies to 457 visa holders?

kdevitt · 09-05-2012 1:11am

Feelgood wrote: »

I read this too, though am struggling to figure out if this applies to 457 visa holders?

It doesn't refer to any specific visa category, but if you look at the savings in page 26 of the budget document (http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/bp2/download/bp2_consolidated.pdf) you can see the savings are progressively higher as people roll off of it, implying a staged withdrawal.

When the new rules come in it will only apply if you maintain a second home in Australia, and even then you can only get it for a max of 12 months.

digiman · 09-05-2012 1:21am

So are we confident for those of us that have got LAFHA before last night that we will continue to receive it for the next 2 years?

Any other changes of note in the budget? Have the made any changes to the tax system? Different tax free thresholds or increase/decrease in the % at each level?

kdevitt · 09-05-2012 1:37am

digiman wrote: »

So are we confident for those of us that have got LAFHA before last night that we will continue to receive it for the next 2 years?

Pretty confident alright - our HR team have already sent the details to our comp & bens team to ensure it continues to be paid to me.

digiman · 09-05-2012 1:42am

kdevitt wrote: »

Pretty confident alright - our HR team have already sent the details to our comp & bens team to ensure it continues to be paid to me.

Would be amazing if it was, would be a huge weekly loss for me if I were to lose it. I had already prepared myself for losing it but won't do anything until I see no change in my payslip from July 1st!

Nick Diamond · 09-05-2012 1:57am

I work in a salary packaging company, and here's what our CEO said

In short, the budget includes the following salary packaging related policy announcements:
• The living-away-from-home allowance benefit will be severely curtailed: it will no longer be available to employees coming into Australia from overseas and eligibility will be capped to a maximum of 12 months for domestic assignees.

The good news is that anyone currently salary packaging LAFHA will be able to maintain their packaging arrangements until the end of their LAFHA period OR until 1 July 2014 -whichever comes first. This means that LAFHA documentation will need to be reviewed to ensure end dates are clearly identified.

So essentially, if you already have LAFHA you will continue to receive it until a) the end of your current contract - your lafha period or b) 1 July 2014

Talk about a win for the lads!

kfc1210 · 09-05-2012 4:15am

So what if you work full time but are moving to part time for a few months (having a baby) and you are working on a 457, as far as the company is concerned they are changing your contract to part time.
Would this count as end of contract or would it be a case of say nothing and hopefully you'l be grand as the contract is being ammended for awhile!

Mellor · 09-05-2012 5:37am

kfc1210 wrote: »

So what if you work full time but are moving to part time for a few months (having a baby) and you are working on a 457, as far as the company is concerned they are changing your contract to part time.
Would this count as end of contract or would it be a case of say nothing and hopefully you'l be grand as the contract is being ammended for awhile!

If they are giving you a new contract, then you should be getting LAFHA. I'm not sure if you'll get away with it or not in a hope for the best siuation.

Also, woudl reducign hours liek that not be in breech of your 457 visa?

dave3004 · 09-05-2012 6:52am

Treasury have confirmed transitional measures will not apply to Temporary Residents which is, of course, terrible news

Feelgood · 09-05-2012 7:05am

dave3004 wrote: »

Treasury have confirmed transitional measures will not apply to Temporary Residents which is, of course, terrible news

Where did you hear this?. Link?

kdevitt · 09-05-2012 7:38am

There is confusion over whether or not yesterdays announcement is the reform in full, or in addition to what was announced in November. If its the latter, then it could indeed be bad news after all - confusion reigns!

kfc1210 · 09-05-2012 9:45am

Mellor wrote: »

If they are giving you a new contract, then you should be getting LAFHA. I'm not sure if you'll get away with it or not in a hope for the best siuation.

Also, woudl reducign hours liek that not be in breech of your 457 visa?

Im defacto so there will be no breach, maybe should have mentioned that part.
By hope for the best i mean that they will just reduce my hours and not want a whole new contract when i switch from full to part time but i suppose thats in the hands of HR!

Butterbear · 09-05-2012 10:56am

I work in the tax dept of a large professional services firm in Aus... and I'm also on LAFHA. The employment taxes Partner emailed today to notify us that the budget announcement was unclear, that she is meeting treasury tomorrow and will let us know Monday what the proposed changes will mean. There is currently uncertainty at to what "entered into arrangements" means- is it your lease contract, your employment contract? The draft bill has not yet been released and the devil will be in the detail. Anyway, I'll post once I hear more.

tezzy_v2 · 09-05-2012 5:18pm

The announcements were definitely unclear - however one of the Partners in the Big Four firm I work in contacted the ATO & Treasury this morning and they have said that:

- the intention of the Budget release was not to change what was previously communicated in November.

Basically -

- 457 visa holder: Yes
- Currently claiming LAFHA: yES
- Will the concessional tax treatment be gone from 1 July 2012: Yes

Basically - now your LAFHA will be taxed at your marginal tax rate.

The Exposure Draft will be released Monday but tighten your belts - LAFHA is with us 457 visa holders for a few more weeks only.

The "transitional arrangements" referred to apply only to Australian permanent residents & citizens who are currently living away from an "Australian, non-rented out" home - they get LAFHA til 2014. Temp residents will not.

Contracts entered into from 7.30pm EST on 8th May for which the employee qualifies for a LAFHA will now only be available for 12 months

- so Aus Perm res, living away from an Australian home, gets job today - can claim LAFHA for 12 months only

Exception to this will be to Fly in Fly Out workers - no 12 month restriction.

Hope this makes sense.....more deets on Monday but no change to the above, just actual legislation.

kdevitt · 09-05-2012 10:41pm

If you read the Nov announcement it says -
"The reforms will apply from 1 July 2012 for both new and existing arrangements."

That quite plainly isn't the case now, as there are staggered dates. So if yesterdays announcement is building on November's one, its pretty contradictory. Even the big accountancy firms have different views on the intention, its absolutely ridiculous.

hussey · 10-05-2012 12:53am

LAFHA Reforms Announced in 2012-13 Budget Release
May 09, 2012
Employees receiving LAFHA prior to yesterday's 2012-13 Commonwealth budget announcement by the Australian Government have been given a two year reprieve before the announced budget reforms will affect their eligibility for the tax concession.
Following the release of the 2012-13 Commonwealth budget by the Australian Government yesterday, further clarification has been provided on the proposed reforms to the Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA).
Whilst there is no detail in relation to the proposals previously discussed, the budget does build on the reforms announced in the 2011-12 MYEFO measure by:
- Limiting access to the tax concession to employees who maintain a home for their own use in Australia, that they are living away from for work; and
- Providing the tax concession for a maximum period of 12 months in respect of an individual employee for any particular work location.
The reforms will apply from 1 July 2012 for arrangements entered into after 7.30pm (AEST) on 8 May 2012, and from 1 July 2014 for arrangements entered into prior to that time. For those people currently receiving LAFHA, arrangements will continue as they are now until 1 July 2014 provided current eligibility criteria are met.
KEY FACTS
- For everyone currently receiving LAFHA, arrangements will not change until 1 July 2014, when reforms are due to be implemented.
- The reforms will apply from 1 July 2012 for arrangements entered into after 7.30pm (AEST) on 8 May 2012.
- For anyone applying for LAFHA from 8 May 2012, the tax concession will be limited to temporary residents if they are living away from a home located within Australia which they are maintaining. Permanent residents may be required to demonstrate that the home that they are living away from is maintained for their own personal use. Renting out the home could fail this criteria.
- For anyone applying for LAFHA from 8 May 2012, the concession can only be accessed for a maximum period of 12 months for any particular work location. This is an additional proposal to the initial reforms announced late last year.
The Government are to consult with tax experts and employers on the technical detail of the legislation for the purposes of ensuring it is fully enacted on 1st July 2012.
As per the budget announcement, additional information is expected shortly from the Government regarding the detail on these reforms.

bakedalaska · 10-05-2012 12:56am

This is getting very confusing/
Irish Echo has a story on it
http://www.irishecho.com.au/2012/05/09/budget-offers-expat-reprieve-on-lafha/18223

Claims that we are keeping it. They would hardly publish a story without confirming it first???

kdevitt · 10-05-2012 1:05am

I'm really hoping that is the case - am waiting on a call back from treasury to find out first hand.

kdevitt · 10-05-2012 1:07am

@Hussey - if that came from lafha.com.au, its just some guys interpretation.

kdevitt · 10-05-2012 2:07am

Just heard its definitely gone for 457 holders as of 1st July 2012.

RaoulDuke66 · 10-05-2012 2:48am

The accountancy firms have been giving some weird and wonderful interpretations of the wording in the budget. One even says that if you benefit from the 2 year transitional period for existing arrangements, the maximum period LAFHA can be claimed for is still 12 months - utter rubbish. But remember, they're accountants, not lawyers. And as for believing what a public sector employee at the end of telephone says, or anyone from a personnel department (sorry, "human resources"), take it with a pinch of salt.
What budget paper 2 says is:
- further reform by means of a measure targeting LAFHA at people legitimately maintaining a second home will build on the previously announced reforms from the mid-year outlook;
- the further measure will not affect FIFO or travel and meal allowances;
- the reforms will apply from 1 July 2014 for arrangements entered into prior to the budget.

So regardless of what any accountant or person answering the phone at the treasury says, they've announed that the reforms will apply from 1 July 2014 for arrangements entered into prior to the budget.

Frankly, common sense tells anyone that 457 visa holders under existing arrangements must be afforded the same time as Australians to rearrange their affairs, living arrangements and employment. If that wasn't the case, many 457 holders would be in a position where they couldn't afford to stay in Australia but couldn't afford to leave due to contractual employment penalties (repayment of relocation costs etc). The queue at HM's foreign and commonwealth office would be down the street.

kdevitt · 10-05-2012 3:00am

RaoulDuke66 wrote: »

What budget paper 2 says is:[/SIZE][/FONT]
- further reform by means of a measure targeting LAFHA at people legitimately maintaining a second home will build on the previously announced reforms from the mid-year outlook

You've included the bit which hangs us 457 holders - its a further reform. The initial reform is included in the November announcement.

Treasury feel that plenty of notice has been given to 457 holders, which I disagree with - especially since I'm one of the people you refer to who will probably have to leave.

Until someone slightly more official than internet budget experts come forward with a clarification, I'm going on the word of the girl I spoke to at treasury - which I obviously hope is incorrect.

hussey · 10-05-2012 3:18am

kdevitt wrote: »

@Hussey - if that came from lafha.com.au, its just some guys interpretation.

I was sent it from a guy at Macquarie - I have asked him where he got it from.

RaoulDuke66 · 10-05-2012 3:20am

The budget wording itself doesn't hang us. The budget took existing reforms, added a new measure, and then at the bottom of all that information says that the reforms will apply from 1 July 2014 for arrangements entered into prior to the budget. Have a re-read of it in context and see whether you agree that's what it says. Of course, the treasury may now do something else, but it definitely says that the reforms don't apply to existing arrangements until 2014.
Re. the girl at the treasury, I take it she had to "phone you back" after asking her supervisor. Yeah, don't believe internet budget "experts" but take the call centre supervisor's "expertise" similarly. The only certainty which will come is from the enacted legislation.
In terms of notice, yes, it was given in November, but I signed my employment contract in October. I can't terminate it without paying tens of thousands of dollars and I can't stay in Australia with a 20% cut in take-home, plus all the additional 457 costs such as private health insurance at $350p/m. What exactly would Mr Swann suggest I do?
Really hope the government doesn't do a u-turn from the position announced in the budget.

kdevitt · 10-05-2012 3:23am

hussey wrote: »

I was sent it from a guy at Macquarie - I have asked him where he got it from.

Yeah its copied from lafha.com.au - the guys who run the site have just posted on linkedin that they need to update it now after a discussion with treasury, and that its not good news for 457 holders.

kdevitt · 10-05-2012 3:27am

RaoulDuke66 wrote: »

The budget wording itself doesn't hang us. The budget took existing reforms, added a new measure, and then at the bottom of all that information says that the reforms will apply from 1 July 2014 for arrangements entered into prior to the budget. Have a re-read of it in context and see whether you agree that's what it says. Of course, the treasury may now do something else, but it definitely says that the reforms don't apply to existing arrangements until 2014.
Re. the girl at the treasury, I take it she had to "phone you back" after asking her supervisor. Yeah, don't believe internet budget "experts" but take the call centre supervisor's "expertise" similarly. The only certainty which will come is from the enacted legislation.
In terms of notice, yes, it was given in November, but I signed my employment contract in October. I can't terminate it without paying tens of thousands of dollars and I can't stay in Australia with a 20% cut in take-home, plus all the additional 457 costs such as private health insurance at $350p/m. What exactly would Mr Swann suggest I do?
Really hope the government doesn't do a u-turn from the position announced in the budget.

The dates in the recent annoucement refer only to the 'further' reforms. The July 2012 termination date announced in November for 457 holders is still effective.

Its going to cost me $2k per month in net pay, believe me - I don't want it to be the case.

RaoulDuke66 · 10-05-2012 3:55am

:eek: Even if you could afford to stay, it'd be crazy to. The next budget could put 457 holders on a 50% flat tax rate overnight, you'd just never be able to sure about your Australian salary as a 457 holder/'highly paid foreign executive and Australian tax expert deliberately rorting the system'.

kdevitt · 10-05-2012 4:40am

Just got an email from our legal advisors who have confirmed it is definitely gone for 457 holders on July this year.

Nick Diamond · 10-05-2012 4:53am

I'm just gonna keep shtum and hope for the best

are 457 holders also going to be paying more tax (regardless of the lafha effect) next financial year?

Feelgood · 10-05-2012 4:56am

kdevitt wrote: »

Just got an email from our legal advisors who have confirmed it is definitely gone for 457 holders on July this year.

I just heard a similar statement from my payroll people, they are however double checking that this is correct.

It wasn't good news in November, but when someone throws you a bone like they did at this weeks budget and then rebutes it - that makes it even worse news. :mad:

I think there will be a lot of Irish comrades considering a move back to the northern hemisphere unfortuntely.

RaoulDuke66 · 10-05-2012 5:01am

Do you know what they're basing that on? Take it they've spoken to the Treasury. However, if the budget statement on dates is taken to apply only to the additional reform, then in fact there has been NO announcement on the dates for the previously consulted upon reforms as there has been no government response to the consultation responses they recevied. So does their reponse to telephone enquiries now form the official response to the consultation responses they received?
I wish you all the best wherever you're forced to go.

Feelgood · 10-05-2012 5:04am

However:

The reforms will apply from 1 July 2012 for arrangements entered into after 7.30pm (AEST) on 8 May 2012, and from 1 July 2014 for arrangements entered into prior to that time.

Taken from the treasury ministers portal:
http://www.treasurer.gov.au/wmsDisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2012/034.htm&PageID=003&min=wms&Year=&DocType=0

Is still causing me confusion.

6ix · 10-05-2012 5:09am

I'm aware that this affects people a lot in terms of their take-home pay, and people have become accustomed to having the extra cash every month... but is this not just the end of the 'gravy train' rather than making it really unaffordable to live here without LAFHA?

I've only going through the process of moving onto a 457 now so I won't be getting LAFHA. I would've loved to get it of course, but it won't happen now. Regardless though, I'm still better off in terms of pay than I would be in Ireland and the UK, and I think that's the case for a lot of people here. In general, LAFHA seems to have been like a bonus to most of the people I know rather than being the difference between surviving and falling below the poverty line. That's definitely what it would've been for me anyway.

To be fair, I know everyone's situation is different and you can't generalise, but I'm just curious. Most of the people I know here are mid-late 20's with no kids or mortgage etc... so maybe that's the reason I see it that way.

RaoulDuke66 · 10-05-2012 5:15am

6ix wrote: »

I'm aware that this affects people a lot in terms of their take-home pay, and people have become accustomed to having the extra cash every month... but is this not just the end of the 'gravy train' rather than making it really unaffordable to live here without LAFHA?

I've only going through the process of moving onto a 457 now so I won't be getting LAFHA. I would've loved to get it of course, but it won't happen now. Regardless though, I'm still better off in terms of pay than I would be in Ireland and the UK, and I think that's the case for a lot of people here. In general, LAFHA seems to have been like a bonus to most of the people I know rather than being the difference between surviving and falling below the poverty line. That's definitely what it would've been for me anyway.

To be fair, I know everyone's situation is different and you can't generalise, but I'm just curious. Most of the people I know here are mid-late 20's with no kids or mortgage etc... so maybe that's the reason I see it that way.

For my wife and I, it's the difference between being able to live in Australia and not. Our decision to come here, made in October, was based solely on being able to afford to live. I feel worse for people with kids who can't afford to stay and can't afford to leave. Did anyone ask the Treasury what those people are supposed to do?

hussey · 10-05-2012 5:16am

hussey wrote: »

I was sent it from a guy at Macquarie - I have asked him where he got it from.

kdevitt wrote: »

Yeah its copied from lafha.com.au - the guys who run the site have just posted on linkedin that they need to update it now after a discussion with treasury, and that its not good news for 457 holders.

I just got this from my mate

I was told by my payroll company if I don’t apply for PR and I don’t change current sponsorship arrangements then I am eligible until 1 July 2014

dave3004 · 10-05-2012 5:27am

Oh god I hope we keep it.

Lease on apt is up in September so will be moving out I reckon if we don't.

Stress of finding somewhere to live.

Can anyone work out how much it will affect me? I'm on about 60k a year (excl Super) I only get LAFHA on the 300 rent I pay weekly.

kdevitt · 10-05-2012 5:35am

RaoulDuke66 wrote: »

For my wife and I, it's the difference between being able to live in Australia and not. Our decision to come here, made in October, was based solely on being able to afford to live. I feel worse for people with kids who can't afford to stay and can't afford to leave.

Same here to be honest - we had a kid here 8 months after we arrived (do the math!) so my wife hasn't been able to work. Being temp resident means we get no support for medical bills and we can't get any childcare rebate. Still have plenty of bills to pay in Ireland, so if it does disappear we are actively looking to move home.

Bye bye LAFHA, no more gravy train

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