Usually 1/3rd of earnings up to a cut off which seems reasonable!

Paying $200 a fortnight not working full time seems fair. It also depends on such things you provide as extra to run of the house/bed and board of course. Toiletries? etc. would be up to him and probably you pay all utilities unless he is very generous :) but it does all need to be sorted so everyone understands the rules of the house. 

..

All the best

Phyl.

What limits your son's employment prospects?

Fast4wd,

That is awful for him.  I hope he is getting counselling.  I do realise the difficulties and costs of obtaining the specialist counselling he needs.

I asked because my answer can only be that a balance has to be struck between your and his needs both now and into the future.  As his carer you must give some priority to being able to maintain your own health and wellbeing to help him.  So don't stress it too much if you must ask for him to kick in a little more.

What doesn't help is when senior politicians like Mr Abbot imply, as he did prior to the last election, that people on disability benefits might not be entitled to them and that savings will come from placing more restrictions on them, ie from the vulnerable in the community.

I think that you should share all bills 50% each including food.

If in the future you have trouble getting treatment for him just go to a public place and use your mobile to dial OOO. Tell them he has had a bad turn of some sort and by some white lies Etc you get help .....then you are in the system.

 i think $250 is more reasonable including utilities .that's about  what he'd be paying someone else if he boarded with them and just because you're his mum doesn't mean you're worth any less....suanne

Look at your weekly expenses for everything- power, gas, insurance, food,rates, water and divide by two. That is fair and you each buy your own personal items . If you take him places in the car or drives your car he should at least fill up the tank every fortnight. Don't look at it from a parental perspective because he is an adult and should take on adult responsibilities. Even if he suffers from anxiety which I know a lot about cause I do too but sometimes you have to be forced out of your safe little cocoon.

My pensioner mother was living with my married sister until she died aged 91. She paid $100 a week rent, plus food $120 a week, $10 week electricity, $5 a week telephone, $10 for hairdressing.(Although she rarely even had her hair cut.) She also gave my sister $50 a week for transport, even when bedridden, and $50 for her chemist items. 

So I think your son is on a good thing. But what you charge is up to you.

Don't be silly....charge half the bills and half the costs.

We have a almost 21 year old living with us, who has a FT job as an apprentice hairdresser, about to commence her 3rd year.

She doesn't pay any board, and just comes and go as she pleases. Most meals are provided for her. She only pays for her cosmetics and hair care and lunch sometimes.

We are both on a centrelink payment, neither of us work. We buy all the food and pay all the bills. Our savings are almost zero.

We thought maybe $50 per fortnight?? Appreciate your thoughts.

No definitely not enough.  Even more so as she comes and goes when she pleases and I guess that means she doesn't do any chores around the house.

Sorry but kids these days expect everything for nothing and do nothing in return.

I would make a list of all your bills including food, sit her down and show her much it costs to keep her.  Then ask her for a reasonable amount, if she doesn't like it then tell her to find somewhere she can live cheaper.

She wouldn't find a flat on her own under $200.00 per week. Even if she shared with others she would have to contribute to food and all household bills on top of her rent share.  She would also have to share the house duties.

My daughter had to move to Sydney for her job and she found a house share with 6 others but they had a list of who was to cook each night, clean their own room and share the rest of the cleaning duties.  A roster was put up and if the jobs weren't done then there was hell to pay.

They had a jar beside the phone and each person had to put the money in each time for their call.

The others soon pulled the recalcitrant one into line or they moved out.

Fast4ward,

It's hard to put a dollar amount on when we don't know his earnings.  Does he get C/Link payments as well  ???

If he doesn't maybe he should look into getting some.  I'm sure they would top him up to pension entitlement if he's not earning enough.  He would be able to get a Drs. certificate surely.

Maybe you might qualify for Carer's allowance as well.  I'm not really up with C/Link and their payments.   Shame Innes isn't here he could tell you.  I really miss him on here

I don't think Fast4ward is listening or has posted for about 3 years.

Phyl, I think Innes was going to sail a boat somewhere to Australia.  Maybe he's off doing that.

He was always very helpful when these types of questions came up.

Yes as Sandy said on the previous page,  she should also contribute towards the utilities.

As parents we all try to contribute as much as we can towards our children but at one stage or another we have to admit to ourselves that they are adults and we are not doing them any favours by treating them as children. At one time or another they will have to face the real world outside.