Killer steam and the great grant chase!

Thursday 18th
Today we looked at 2 rental properties. One is suitable enough for an interim period, but would not be long term. I think we have negotiated a month to month term. But we have no money to do this!

Jude Perra's office rang to advise the grant office payment was not taxable income. He advised
"DHS emergency grants are not assessable income under section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 as they are not income according to concepts that define ordinary income under the Act. Ordinary income has generally been held to include three categories, namely income from rendering personal services, income from property and income from carrying on a business. DHS emergency grants provided are not earned by taxpayer recipients as they do not relate to services performed and therefore fall outside the definition of ordinary income.

Australian Taxation Office's Taxation Determination 2006/22 and ATO Interpretive Decision 2003/568 support and illustrate the above statement. "

I then rang DHS to ascertain when they would meet with us regarding the grant. Their reception tried to put me back to the Casey number! I advised it was DHS handling this. I then spoke to a case worker who advised they are scheduling meetings tomorrow at the Balla Balla centre and would ring and advise a time.

More time away from home, not working for my business, our income had reduced because of this. Sorry to all our customers who have not received their party supplies! We are trying our best.

On the way to school today Hannah wanted to take the dog with her. She had a tantrum when I said no. In the car both of them told me they are worried about the steam killing the dogs and they want them with them. I tried to explain the gas the best that I could. It sounded like they had talked about it together before they spoke to me. It's funny the things that they stress about are so different to us. It is certainly having an impact upon them. Last night Jaiden was in my bed, so I could watch his breathing and in the middle of the night he literally crawled on top of me and didn't want to let go!

I think people have forgotten this is about families and people and children and dogs!