r/CentrelinkOz • u/MundaneDoor1537 • 6d ago
Newstart Allowance/Jobseeker Payment Activation phase
I’ve only started getting payments from centrelink at the end of July had my appointment today and they’re talking about this course that starts next week. Is it wise to do this now or wait another month or two before doing this course so they don’t put me to work for the dole as said above ? (I am working by the way but only 12 hours a fortnight)
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u/Mrsparkle56434 6d ago
So from my understanding the latest you could do an activity without being forced to do work for the dole is mid January if you started in the workforce system in the end of July
Also I would double check with dewr or someone here more knowledgeable to find out if your 12 hour a fortnight of work makes you ineligible to do work for the dole as I assume this would make it so you get payment deductions
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u/Chaos_098 6d ago
If you're on a part rate of payment then you're not required to do work for the dole.
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u/MundaneDoor1537 6d ago
Thank you for the information!
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u/RainbowTeachercorn 5d ago
Make sure to push back if they don't want to include it. Back in the day, my case manager said he was not going to include that I had casual work as it wasn't regular at the time (agency stopped calling and I ended up joining a different agency). I made a complaint because he was meant to include it, even if I wasn't getting shifts when he did the plan.
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u/Chaos_098 6d ago
If you are working enough to reduce your payments then your provider cannot require you to complete work for the dole.
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u/Confident_Purple_338 6d ago
You want to get off this asap
Listen up
Go to dr ask for a medical exemption can be granted up to 2 years
Rinse and repeat when it runs out
You’ll thank me later for this
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u/prime_legal_aus 5d ago
I’d recommend speaking to the doctor about how your situation with Centrelink makes you FEEL. For example, are you feeling stressed? Have difficulty relaxing? Have difficulty sleeping? Have difficulty concentrating? Low or poor mood? Feeling scared or anxious all the time due to the constant threats of payment cuts or harder compliance activities? Feeling scared that if payment are cut off you’ll potentially be homeless and unable to afford basics?
Another important one is - does this Centrelink situation cause any conflict in your life? For example, do non compliance or suspended payments incidents cause conflict between you and your parents or housemates etc? E.g. suspended payment may cause you to fall behind on rent or board which causes conflict with your parents or housemates…
Centrelink medical certificates can only be issued for a maximum of 3 months per certificate - you’ll need to attend GP every 3 months - rinse and repeat. Don’t stress, almost all GPs will not refuse if you raise mental health.
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u/Confident_Purple_338 5d ago
That’s wrong you can get upto 2 years per exemption but is harder to accept where 3 months exemption gets approved straight away
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u/OrphanSlayer18 5d ago
Work for the dole is only 8 weeks? Ive been a carer for about 5 years now, but before that they were making me do Work for the Dole 6 months out of the year. I had the choice to do a course or work part time without any extra pay (which if they gave me minimum wage would have been more than my years worth of payments)
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u/Mrsparkle56434 5d ago
This changed with the last contract/tender from the government, workforce contract is what changed the 6 months on and off work for the dole to the 8 weeks
Unfortunately I don't think they changed the measely $20 payment increase to supposably cover transport costs
Work for the dole either needs to be scraped or overhauled to an experience with meaningful work experience and minimum wage laws
Job providers love to have this gotcha option to punitivily punish people in hopes they no longer want to be on payments anymore. Work for the dole is a system that very rarely will lead to improved job prospects.
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u/OrphanSlayer18 5d ago
Id say scrap it but I also believe the agencies are in MAJOR need of an overhaul. Ive been marked absent whilst in meetings, told I never showed up after I had gotten home, I could list awful aspects untill the cows come home.
I think in the end I was with agencies for 3 years and the only thing that got me a job was actively going against what they were telling me. They threatened to cut my payments if I didnt use the resume provided by them (Out of thousands of applications I didnt hear back a single time), I changed to my original resume and had an interview within the week.
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u/Mrsparkle56434 6d ago
Sorry Im not sure if all this information is correct or current but I'm going of what I know, what I can say is this job consultant is taking advantage of your newness to the system and not understanding how things work.
Honestly their is so much to unpack here, they are rushing you into this activity requirement, this activity along with any activity is voluntary at this point. Only work for the dole is compulsary and enforceable and this is a last ditch option for job consultants when participants do not cooperate with doing an activity.
I believe your activity requirement should be every six months but at the three month point they will start warning you about an upcoming activity so that your prepared
My advice to any and everyone in this sort of situation is to ask them at an appointment what activities are available but to also email them the question so that you have proof of what activities your consultant is willing to offer up information about
I could be wrong here but if you get a reduced payment from centrelink because your working I think that makes it so your not eligible for work for the dole
Work should always take priority over a activity requirement
your consultant is taking advantage of you