When on the Newstart Judy, don't you have to report in as to jobs you have tried for. Wouldn't that be difficult if on the road. Also not sure how you would go selling the unit in regards to benefit. It sounds like the way to go if can be done.
I would like to know if I can live on the dole / newstart I think it's called now if I have no debts, own my van, sell my unit, and just take off????
Hi Barina. I checked with CentreLink on this just for the sake of interest. Basically it appears that IN THEORY you can't do this if you are on Newstart Jobseeker only. There is Newstart Jobseeker, Newstart Incapacitated and Newstart Parenting Partnered, (not normal Parenting Payment). You have to have a registered address with CentreLink which links back to your mandatory Job Service Provider. You have to report personally to your J.S.P. either once, twice, or four times a month depending on which 'stream' you are on. As you progress in the 'streams' these attendences become closer together. Whilst you are reporting, there will be time in between, but this will limit your travel distance. Again, depending on your 'stream' you have to report earnings and job searches to CentreLink. This can be done on line either fortnightly or 2 monthly dependent on your 'stream'. You will also have to report to your CentreLink Office for a face to face interview at specified times. Unless you are on a Pension Payment (Aged, Disability etc) you've got to stay in your 'area'. You can change your 'area' but only to a location where the unemployment rate is not more than 2% higher than your original location. (Some exceptions for separations, relatives needing supoort etc). We're fostering Disabled Children and get a a Carer's Payment and Allowance. We have to change back and forth with NewStart/Carer's as children come and go depending on the permanency of the placement. For what it's worth. P.S I should mention that to not genuinely be looking for work is an offence under the Commonwealth Welfare Act and the Commonwealth Crimes Act and another couple of Regulations re false documentation etc. From my old 'copper' days I think the maximum works out at about 3 lots of 25 years imprisonment. When they imprison someone, CentreLinks cuts them off NewStart LOL. For what it's worth.
-- Edited by Keith19837 on Thursday 31st of May 2012 08:09:44 PM
If you currently have a job and resign then you will have to wait i think 26 weeks to get dole. Also if you move from a area with low unemployment to high unemployment you have to wait another 26 weeks, as you intend to move a lot this will be a problem.
Happy, is right you have to report every ft with jobs you looked for. they also hassle you for not having a permanent address, although you can communicate via web and email. But ringing them on a mobile will bankrupt you. I have done lots of moving about on dole, it depends which centrelink officer you get as well, some are real nazis, and they seem to have a 2 minute time limit to deal with you at counter.
If you are working, go for a redundancy.
options are
1) rent your unit and just take off and live on rent.
2) if you sell then you have to declare the money to centrlink which will reduce your dole
3) just go on the dole where you live, then travel for 10 days a ft come back fill in a dole form, recharge your AGM batteries, have a good long hot shower, shop and freeze heaps of food, then bugger off again. If you have a 2 bed unit rent a room to a friend and use that money for rates etc.
Option 3 is the one i am about to do. (if you have a good relationship with a centrelink person, then you can con some longer journeys. by saying you are going to drive to say WA to see if you like it and too see if any work. tell them a friend has rung you to come over.. then you can take 6-10 weeks travel to WA drop into centrelink each ft, get your local clink to put in on your record and each clink officer along travels will be able to see it and not hassle you. You can repeat this a couple of times a year. Watch Hustle on ABC and learn how to play the long con. don't hassle a centrelink staffer but get them to be on your side. Convince them you are seriously travelling to look for work. Picking up some 1 day fruit picking and declaring it to centrelink will re-inforce the con
OK so it looks like back to plan A stay at work for 4 more years and use A/L and long service leave up to retirement age 65.5 during the last year...... I plan to sell my unit and hopefully will already have my motorhome and will drive it to work on my last day and take off from there at 5pm......Yaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Now to concentrate on finding the MH............thanks all
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Judy
"There is no moment of delight in any journey like the beginning of it"
I very recently sold my business and gave up working all together mostly for medical reasons. Went to CentreLink to see if I could qualify for a Health Care Card, not expecting to get any payment from them at all. I have about 2yrs before Age Pension but walked out of there with full Newstart and all I have to do is present them with a medical certificate every 3 mths, no job searching or retraining. I do have to wait 13wks for payments to begin due to money in the bank. If you treat c/link staff with respect and go there not expecting everything handed to you you can get a very good result. Contrary to popular belief they are NOT stupid and they know if your trying to put one over on them.
-- Edited by Scotty01 on Friday 1st of June 2012 07:29:31 AM
Have to agree with you scotty, they can be very helpful and put you on the right track. I was on the widows benefit and came up for review. During that review they suggested I should go on disability (because of my health issues) and arranged for all medicals etc to be be carried out. Within weeks I was transferred to disability. Like you I only had a short time till age pension, about 18 months. Not sure how that would go for someone a bit younger. I've never had a problem with help from centrelink, except the half hour waits on the phone.
I had the opposite experience where I was put on newstart after spending many months at blazeaid in Victoria (at CES insistence when they visited us) and I always filled my commitment in doing at least a month of voluntary work every three months and often much more. When I went into a ces my last 3 monthly interview the person asked me how much work I had done in the last fortnight I was honest and told her NONE but I had done 6 weeks full time in the period (and had the paper work to prove it) and had left 3 weeks previously to do some personal business in the area.
She promptly told me that I was not untitled to new start unless I had done the 15 hours in the previous two weeks and she instantly cut me off new start. Had about 4 months to go to the pension and was entitled to disability pension but could not get the doctors certificate as I had moved with work in the last 15 years so could not get a doctor to give 10 years records.
I think it depends on the person you get and the mood they are in on the day.
Regards Brian
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11 Mtr house Boat based at Mannum hoping to travel up the Murray as far as I can get then drift back again
Exactly right Brian... It really does depend on the person you meet on the day... the time of day and the day of the week... what that persons personally going through that they bring with them and how they react to you (personal bias and predjudice)... Ive found some centrelink office's brilliant very helpful caring and dedicated they also have a rotating shift that allows for breaks during the day not just a coffee break and a lunch break but a break when they need it! others Ive found very rude abrupt and abrasive the staff often tired fed up and in need of a break but not due one so keep on at it meaning they wear down become cranky etc... I also found Tuesdays to be good in the morning and again on a Friday arvo... but it seriously depends on who is standing before you at the time
Good luck!!!
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Life is whats happening when your busy making other plans... John Lennon
I have Centrelink Phobia as a result of all the negative, bad and stupid behaviour of the staff in several Centrelink offices around the country. The best was Yapoon. One of the worst is Salisbury, SA. They all work from the same policy manual, but seem to give it their own personal interpretation when it comes to dealing with the people they supposed to help. So attending a Centrelink office for me is a traumatic experience, and I become nauseous when I walk in the door. I've been subjected to their crap as a single mum and a disability pensioner who wants to work a bit, but not in a regular job, so the confusion just makes them totally abusive, and exposes their stupidity. Good for you if you have done everything by the book and not presented them with an challenges.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
My husband has been on part age pension for over three years but I would have had to go on Newstart. I chose not to. Mainly because I had heard the stories of a friend who did and she was treated so badly (having to apply for 20 jobs a fortnight at age 63! Businesses said, you are wasting your time and ours) that she became suicidal. I decided I wanted to be able to still do what I wanted to do with my time and not what C/L said I had to. I'm just thinking of making enquiries now as I will only have 7 months to go for Age Pension. If they still want me on Newstart and applying for jobs, I'll say 'No thanks.' I do agree with others though that it all depends who you see when you walk through the door, and which office too.
Brian ...thanks, I have started to consider that option also from 2014. is there a rough figure for a single person, including, reg, ins, food, petrol, caravan parks etc that it would cost to live on term dep interest or pension from super for a year....$25,000 - $35,000 for an example......
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Judy
"There is no moment of delight in any journey like the beginning of it"
Bush camp and enjoy your time in the country your low figure is heaps in my experience. If you want to live the high life and stay in parks then a lot more than your high figure. Like all things in life it is what you make it.
I have met many on the road living on the pension. If they get short of money they sit and wait till pension day. Ensure you have the food and water and the fuel can be bought when you have the cash. No fuel no travel, you sit back and relax.
I have met people who think nothing of $100's of dollars a day and like to tell you about it, but then they are no happier than someone who is taking it easy and enjoying the country on a meager income.
Its your choice. Every day you are working is a day you are not enjoying the life of the road.
Regards Brian
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11 Mtr house Boat based at Mannum hoping to travel up the Murray as far as I can get then drift back again
Thanks Brian......................... I have simple tastes and can live well but cheaply, so the high flyer I am not ....I just want to be happy and sit around and chat with people I meet and that is enough company for me ...free camping is the way I plan to travel mostly, only needing a CP when I needed to.........................I have relatives in NSW and QLD so could use that accomodation as I needed to.
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Judy
"There is no moment of delight in any journey like the beginning of it"
