Family Resistance Office

After four months of attempts Charles and I have finally managed to have something changed by the Family Resistance Office. Our troubles first began when James started daycare. Until then I thought we had a family CRN (Customer Reference Number) and a CRN for each child. But when I tried to enrol James in daycare it turned out that Charles had a completely separate CRN to me and that James was "linked" to his CRN not mine. This, apparently, was because Charles had filled in our baby bonus form - not me. Forget that the money all goes into the same account - separate CRNs means as far as Family Resistance is concerned, we're not a family. And why does that matter? I never did get a straight answer - it just does. For whatever reason it was too hard for everyone for the kids to be "linked" to separate parents but attending the same daycare centre.

Thus began an epic battle. The first hurdle was getting them to understand our family situation. What are our custody arrangements? Well we fight a lot over who has to look after the kids on the weekend. Huh? There are no custody arrangements because we are a family! Surprising as it is, there are still parents who live together and raise their children together and no none of the children are children from a previous relationship. We got married, we had two children and despite our best efforts we still live together because the rule is whoever leaves the relationship has to take the kids with them. Well if our circumstances haven't changed, why did I apply for the baby bonus for Charlotte and Charles applied for the baby bonus for James? Well because I filled in the 29-page form the first time and I felt that it was his turn to experience your efficiency and the subsequent carpal tunnel from filling in the form. The number of times I got asked whether we were separated boggles my mind. Clearly despite their name, the concept of "family" is completely foreign to Family Resistance.

First we were told we could change our claim details online. When this failed, we had to go in to the office. When I got to the office, I couldn't do it by myself and we both had to be there. When Charles took time off work and we were both there, we needed a copy of James' birth certificate with us but only one of us would have to bring it. When Charles was there with the birth certificate he couldn't do it on the spot, he'd have to fill in a form that we both needed to sign. Finally the birth certificate was photocopied, the form was filled in, we'd both signed it and then it would take up to 21 days for them to process it.

Finally today when I called Family Resistance it seems that James has been "linked" to me. I don't know why it's all so complicated - the money is going to go into exactly the same account as it would have under Charles, we all still live at the same address and our children still go to the same daycare centre. What I can't figure out is whether it's been so difficult because we're a "normal" family with no complicated divorces, separate addresses/bank accounts, same-sex marriages and adoptions or whether people who have those "complications" find it even harder to navigate the ridiculous obstacle course that lies between parents and the childcare rebate.

Either way, I would argue in favour of a name change because "Family Assistance Office" is just false advertising.