Putting figures to the story

A useful story in the Herald about a struggling family who are being helped by the charity Variety.

The story gives enough info that you can work out their full financial situation. It is:

• Salary from teaching $43,420
• Tax $6.620
• Net salary $36,802
• WFF $14,040
• Accom $6,916
• Net income $57,758

As the youngest child is four years old there is also eligibility for childcare subsidy of up to $200 a week.

Now raising two kids on $1,110 a week would be tight. But it is worth noting taxpayers are already helping out considerably boosting the net salary of $37,000 by a further $21,000.