45 minutes at CENTRE LINK

[hodgo]

OH WHAT AN EDUCATION
I had to take my 21 yr old grandson to centre link today, To start of the day fell apart when the arrangements that were made between us did not happen which were I would call him an hour before I was ready to pick him up, he had loaned his phone to a mate so he could play games on it. After 3 phone calls with no answer I turned up about 1030 am he is still in bed asleep he was up to about 3.30 am playing games on his computer. He is still in bed, Without washing or attending personal hygiene matters and approx 2-3 minutes he is in the car ready to go. Never having been in a centre link office I decided to go in instead of sitting in the car waiting


Once inside it’s a bit like another world most the people reminded me of the walmartians that I have received funny emails about in the past, The first thing that attracted my attention after sitting down was the top of the range Mobil phone that they all had that were being used to play games on, Then the musical chairs stared They seemed to be in groups of up to 5 it must be moral support for the one that seeking what ever, I had to move twice so they could all be together. Then one got a phone call Which went something like this, Hy man I am down at centre link the dumb bastards want me to fill out F&&& paper or I get no money They just stuff every one about


In front of me was a young bloke and woman with what appeared 4 hangers on conversation went something like Sh—t look at this 4 mags with good tyre not a bad price. Reply have to get the motor fixed look for a 5 Ltr. Head, woman-- what would another engine cost – you look for on your phone—woman found one $1250 --Him see what happens here another, ( I think he was referring to what money they could get) young bloke in the group pipes up – so no burn outs meet next Friday night. At this stage I was near speechless.
I moved again so that a young woman with a tribe of what must have been rent a kids came in, could all sit together I am now sitting next to a woman about in her mid 20s with tats all over her body she starts a conversation with Don’t you just hate this place Me-- do you come here often— Her I have been coming here for 4 years, Me -- They have not been able to get you employment Her-- Its not these idiots that get you a job they pass that on to those pri-ks across the road and they don’t want to know how I feel, so I just tell the stupid bustards’ what they want to hear Her—I worked for 3 days once Not the job I wanted and the boss lady was up herself so I told them to stick I got no money for nearly 6 months I told them that I don’t live on fresh air but they said it was my fault. At this point she is called up.
It was during this that I noticed that the self opening sliding doors were hardly ever shut or the would get half closed and reopen this was a nonstop action They must have bloody good mechanicals in them or require a lot of maintaince
It was like an hour in a new world one I don’t want to live in Although I did see the other side of the one I live in and for years I paid tax’s to keep this lot One thing I learnt from a couple of kids was don’t try and explain where the government gets the money to give to them It seem to be a right for them to get it.

Hodgo

[redrovertdi]

Unfortunately it sounds like your grandson will fit in. Had a mate staying/working with me while he was waiting for his start in the navy, he was on the dole and declaring what he earnt working with me, we used to get to Strathpine centrelink at 9am and the place was always empty- befor 10am is way to early for the grubs

[Roverlord off road spares]

Hodgo welcome to the real world, it's an eye opener. Just shut up about it as if you say anything you'll get shot down by do gooders that say these poor people are victims of circumstances and these are only a minority. This is why every one wants to come to this country as we are stupid enough to give hand outs to every body, even though some of them abuse the privilage to getting a hand out.

If you want another eye opener, spend a morning at the magistrate courts and see the type of people and their attitudes to the law and make a joke of it.

Please someone add a strong dose of chlorine to the gene pool, this sub species should not be allowed to breed.

[Homestar]

Yeah, I had a bit of a giggle when I took a friend in there that had just moved from interstate. The one that made me laugh the most was a guy standing in a queue waiting to hand a form in with 'Call me Mr Lazy' on his T shirt...

[amtravic1]

I used to do maintenance work for a company that managed a building with 2 employment agencies in it in Frankston. Never ceased to amaze me at the people who would be there looking for work, or perhaps they were not really looking for work but had to be seen to make an attempt to keep getting the dole. There was no way any employer would want 95% of them anywhere near their business!

I have been into centrelink a couple of times over the last year with my daughter to try and find out what she may be eligible for as a person going to uni and living away from home in a country town. Not a very good experience at all. Centrelink staff are next to useless and just say to look on line, and the place is full of more useless "customers".

[AndyG]

I could imagine the Centre Link staff who start with good intentions are dragged down to the lowest level by the quality of the average customer.

Here in PNG there is zero social welfare for anyone, but thats probably not the answer either.

[460cixy]

I had a bloke renting a room off me for a while he said the best time to go was first thing as soon as the doors open that way all the dead heads are still tucked in bed. But saying that this bloke had no Intention to get a job I told him when I kicked him out I had never seen a bloke work so hard at not working

[Bigbjorn]

The policy types in Canberra have made the decisions to enhance customer service by introducing on-line self-service. I call it "help yourself". Much processing that was once done at the regional office is now scanned and sent to processing centres where all transactions of a particular type are handled in bulk. There are no longer any field officers or investigators at a regional office. Staff have been reduced, and again and again. No one has available time to double check and ensure claims and continuation documents are correct and kosher. Push them through and get the clients paid is the management creed. The policy types idea is to eliminate the infamous queues and full waiting rooms keeping the clients out of the offices by use of on-line services. Wooly headed thinking by would be do-gooders and social workers who never dealt with the sloppy end of society. Example is the introduction of open plan offices and the removal of the counters which the social engineers saw as "a barrier, creating an us and them environment". So now the benos come into the office and sit alongside an assessors desk. This meant files can no longer be on your desk but must be kept in lockable cupboards alongside to maintain privacy.

I was a field officer and it was quite normal when calling on benos to find them still in bed at 10.30 am or later. Answering the door in their jocks, bleary and hungover, smelling of stale grog and grass. And, most annoyed about being roused from their slumbers so early. My personal policy when calling them into the office for an interview was to book them in for an early appointment, 8.30, 9.00, 9.30 etc. Got them off their butts particularly if they lived on one of the Bay Islands.

What you need to remember, Hodgo, is that probably 90% of clients are ordinary decent people in need of help. The other 10% are the dregs of society who seem to habitually infest the offices. Usually because they have failed to lodge a required document or have lost their paperwork, or not done something required of them.

[weeds]

I would have went back home if he wasn't ready and let the grandson sort his own **** out.............at 21 he should be more sorted

my 10yo know the drill (well quite all the time), I give him a leaving time to get to sport. if he drags his feet than I don't remind him, the coach soon sorts him out. the two older kids 13 and 14 well and truly have their **** sorted, always ontime and ready to go

[frantic]

So to try and thwart the 10% the Govt has cut 6months support to 100% of those under 30.
What's the next step?
First some push to cut welfare to long term unemployed as "their all bludgers".
Next is the push to cut help to lower income earners as"they should work harder,longer, get a degree"
Following that is the push to cut the pension:twisted: as "they have worked for 40-50 years and should have saved enough to retire on"
Then there are the pollies who are pushing for pay your own medical bills on self inflicted illnesses caused by smoking and eating high fat or sugar. " you have known for 50 years ciggies cause lung cancer and circulation issues etc, along with high sugar causing diabetes and high fat= numerous organ issues, alcohol causes kidney and liver issues and if you have a DUI prang pay your own medical. "
How far do we go?

[Bigbjorn]

A senior officer of the defunct CES proposed a scheme that would have removed a significant number of long termers from the unemployment rolls. The pollies, of course, crapped their pants as benos vote. Quite simple really and would not have cost a lot. Hire a hall, put in a lot of chairs and desks, and tell your local long termers, particularly the recalcitrant and the troublemakers to attend daily 8.30 to 4.30, Monday to Friday, or else. Within a few weeks most would have ceased attending and had their benefit cancelled. Attendance would prevent them running their little cash businesses, their cash in hand jobs, going to auctions to buy stock for the market stall, minding the grand-children whilst mum worked, and so on.

Or do what the Americans do. Unemployment Insurance that has a finite time limit. Payments stop after a given date. Some give 12 months, other states give 24-26 weeks. In 2011 Michigan was in budget stress and cut the maximum period of ue insurance down to 20 weeks from 24. Others permit taking half rate for double the period. When the money cuts out, yanks go to what is called "welfare". This has to be voted for by the local citizens and usually jointly funded by the three tiers of government if voted for. No money is given, food vouchers only and rent assistance paid direct to the landlord. Many local option polls fail because the locals see a welfare system as attracting undesirables (read ethnic groups).

[101RRS]

crapped their pants as benos vote.

You have been using the term beno - never heard of it before - neither has google - I can imagine what it means but never heard it before - is a Qlder thing?

Garry

[AndyG]

So to try and thwart the 10% the Govt has cut 6months support to 100% of those under 30.
What's the next step?
First some push to cut welfare to long term unemployed as "their all bludgers".
Next is the push to cut help to lower income earners as"they should work harder,longer, get a degree"
Following that is the push to cut the pension:twisted: as "they have worked for 40-50 years and should have saved enough to retire on"
Then there are the pollies who are pushing for pay your own medical bills on self inflicted illnesses caused by smoking and eating high fat or sugar. " you have known for 50 years ciggies cause lung cancer and circulation issues etc, along with high sugar causing diabetes and high fat= numerous organ issues, alcohol causes kidney and liver issues and if you have a DUI prang pay your own medical. "
How far do we go?

Dare I say, until they carry their own weight. I think Darwin explained it quite well.
I have a mate, very well paid, who smokes, drinks and loves to gamble. Why should society have to pick up the pieces. Normally, it's me, not society.

[Geedublya]

You have been using the term beno - never heard of it before - neither has google - I can imagine what it means but never heard it before - is a Qlder thing?

Garry

I'm guessing beneficiary? probably a term used in the department.

[Bigbjorn]

Departmental jargon. BeNo used to be at the top right of the computer screen, Benefit Number, changed to SSR, Social Security Reference Number, then to the current CRN, Customer Reference Number. Also an abbreviation for beneficiary. Commonly used by staff in a derisive manner. As in "there are people on benefits, then there are benos".

[TeamFA]

No money is given, food vouchers only and rent assistance paid direct to the landlord.

This is the sort of form true welfare should take. Made out to individual names (non-transferrable - or sellable/tradable) rent assistance, food stamps, public transport vouchers (to get to job interviews) and other necessities.

[Bigbjorn]

pay your own medical bills on self inflicted illnesses caused by smoking and eating high fat or sugar. " you have known for 50 years ciggies cause lung cancer and circulation issues etc, along with high sugar causing diabetes and high fat= numerous organ issues, alcohol causes kidney and liver issues

Well, the political influence of the RSL managed to get diseases of aging and indulgence recognised as war caused so vets get TPI pensions for prostate cancer, lung cancer, diabetes, obesity, cirrhosis of the liver, alcoholism and so on. Wounded at the Battle of the Beer Houses and Brothels.

[frantic]

Dare I say, until they carry their own weight. I think Darwin explained it quite well.
I have a mate, very well paid, who smokes, drinks and loves to gamble. Why should society have to pick up the pieces. Normally, it's me, not society.

Problem is at the moment we punish those who do plan and prepare. Then we reward the gambler.
I do shiftwork, a few years ago the plant was cut so vol redundancy was given to the older blokes. The guy who lived at the club, smoked and slapped the pokies got a full pension and is still getting rent assistance, a lot of others who invested, saved and put extra into their super get little or zero pension and now we pay extra tax on any extra super contributions even though it will save the Govt in the long term.

[3toes]

Or do what the Americans do. Unemployment Insurance that has a finite time limit. Payments stop after a given date. Some give 12 months, other states give 24-26 weeks. In 2011 Michigan was in budget stress and cut the maximum period of ue insurance down to 20 weeks from 24. Others permit taking half rate for double the period. When the money cuts out, yanks go to what is called "welfare". This has to be voted for by the local citizens and usually jointly funded by the three tiers of government if voted for. No money is given, food vouchers only and rent assistance paid direct to the landlord. Many local option polls fail because the locals see a welfare system as attracting undesirables (read ethnic groups).

USA sounds like the system used in the UK prior to WW1. People and their families without work were a burden on the local community who had to pay for their up keep. The community would seek out where there was work then bundle up a group of people and send them off to their new life.

[nat_89]

Problem is at the moment we punish those who do plan and prepare. Then we reward the gambler.
I do shiftwork, a few years ago the plant was cut so vol redundancy was given to the older blokes. The guy who lived at the club, smoked and slapped the pokies got a full pension and is still getting rent assistance, a lot of others who invested, saved and put extra into their super get little or zero pension and now we pay extra tax on any extra super contributions even though it will save the Govt in the long term.

Yeah i know what you mean there a fella who's just come to our mine site as a contract grader operator was working full time with a big mining company who lost their contract and they all lost their jobs, so he went to centrelink after running low on savings and they said no you can't get any money because you have a house and he's like well i won't have a house for much longer if i don't get some help.

I just ****es me someone who works hard pays quite a lot in tax each year and just for a short amount of time needs help to get by until he finds a job and nope can't help but they can bloody happily helped someone who's never worked a day in their life bloody load of crap!!

[trog]

where do you classify those how do not qualify for a thing due to their living arrangements ? are they still oxygen thieves if they havent a job , prospect of one and not on benefits ? this is not to be thought of as a smat ass comment , because i am not sure where i stand in society. in the last few months i have met several other older unemployed in the same situation. not being on benefits there is no cash incentives to possible employers. it is also generally said that the longer out to pasture the prospects diminish. from personal experience of bouncing between short term , never more than three month stints, to day labour unloading containers , i actually look with a degree of envy to those collecting. at least they are recognised as a part of society, though demonised.
i can if money can be diverted from the mortgage and daily living expenses take courses but the average vacancy position requires "x" amount of experience. therefore no experience no start. even basic positions of which i easily qualify have not come to fruition. i must be md i think to continually bang my head against the wall. do i accept just anything , anywhere , or do i follow the goals of what i consider my workplace path ?

[Bigbjorn]

Yeah i know what you mean there a fella who's just come to our mine site as a contract grader operator was working full time with a big mining company who lost their contract and they all lost their jobs, so he went to centrelink after running low on savings and they said no you can't get any money because you have a house and he's like well i won't have a house for much longer if i don't get some help.

I just ****es me someone who works hard pays quite a lot in tax each year and just for a short amount of time needs help to get by until he finds a job and nope can't help but they can bloody happily helped someone who's never worked a day in their life bloody load of crap!!

That's a crock of ordure. Home ownership does not preclude one from receiving payments. In fact the principal residence is exempt from the assets test. Or do you mean he has an investment property whose value exceeds the assets test?

By the way, the official purpose of Newstart Allowance or unemployment benefit is to allow the recipient to look for work not to pay their day to day living expenses. This is made clear to new public servants at the initial training courses. True!

[Bigbjorn]

where do you classify those how do not qualify for a thing due to their living arrangements ? are they still oxygen thieves if they havent a job , prospect of one and not on benefits ? this is not to be thought of as a smat ass comment , because i am not sure where i stand in society. in the last few months i have met several other older unemployed in the same situation. not being on benefits there is no cash incentives to possible employers. it is also generally said that the longer out to pasture the prospects diminish. from personal experience of bouncing between short term , never more than three month stints, to day labour unloading containers , i actually look with a degree of envy to those collecting. at least they are recognised as a part of society, though demonised.
i can if money can be diverted from the mortgage and daily living expenses take courses but the average vacancy position requires "x" amount of experience. therefore no experience no start. even basic positions of which i easily qualify have not come to fruition. i must be md i think to continually bang my head against the wall. do i accept just anything , anywhere , or do i follow the goals of what i consider my workplace path ?

Living arrangements? Do you mean you are married to or living de facto with someone who is earning and whose earnings are sufficient to preclude payments? If so, you are in no worse a situation than any other single income couple. You can still register with a Job Service Provider for assistance in obtaining work without receiving payments from Centrelink.

[nat_89]

That's a crock of ordure. Home ownership does not preclude one from receiving payments. In fact the principal residence is exempt from the assets test. Or do you mean he has an investment property whose value exceeds the assets test?

By the way, the official purpose of Newstart Allowance or unemployment benefit is to allow the recipient to look for work not to pay their day to day living expenses. This is made clear to new public servants at the initial training courses. True!

I believe its just his own house but i can't remember the whole story but he said it was just too much paperwork and they weren't really interested in helping him i mean i know it should not be easy because then its open to scammers but heres someone who's been in full time work for years and pays about $40k a year in tax and the one time you need some help looking for work they can't help you, now i know yeah if he pays big in tax he should have heaps of spare $$ laying around but sometimes its not that easy i guess.

I can't remember the full story but i mean for people who have been in full time work and need some help whilst finding another job i think it should be a bit easier for them to get assistance whilst looking!

[frantic]

Yeah i know what you mean there a fella who's just come to our mine site as a contract grader operator was working full time with a big mining company who lost their contract and they all lost their jobs, so he went to centrelink after running low on savings and they said no you can't get any money because you have a house and he's like well i won't have a house for much longer if i don't get some help.

I just ****es me someone who works hard pays quite a lot in tax each year and just for a short amount of time needs help to get by until he finds a job and nope can't help but they can bloody happily helped someone who's never worked a day in their life bloody load of crap!!

Personally I believe all retired people should at least get the medical discount card regardless of their income.
The problem with payouts and centrelink is they don't align. If your a shiftworker or mine employee, your paid well over your base wage, which means you get made redundant your payout is at the base rate for x weeks. This means in the eyes of centrelink you have x weeks income before you can get any benefits. The problem is you where doing overtime and shiftwork /FIFO which meant you where earning double your base and your bills job searching etc eat through your payout far faster than the weeks on the slip. Be it forced or voluntary redundancy you should be able to get some help when needed, not when your x number of weeks pay has finished.
These are people who have worked and paid tax who are being punished instead of helped to get back and pay more tax.It's another case of hurting the majority to try and stop a few scammers. As Brian said 90% do the right thing, it's the 10% who they are trying to get with stupid blanket laws.

[DBT]

I can share another personal perspective on Centrelink:

I've been unemployed for 4 months, after being retrenched from work. As I received a pay-out, I was not in dire need of financial support. However my commercial unemployment insurance policies on things such as my novated lease, required Centrelink endorsement, to confirm I was "registered as unemployed" and "actively seeking work".

That's where my struggle began.

It took me 3 months to convince Centrelink to endorse my insurance claim. :eek:

Now I kind of understand the attitudes of the staff I dealt with, as they seem to have experience mainly with a certain kind of long term client. My mantra to them at every point of contact was: "It's not about the money. Please READ the document I am asking you to sign, before you start shaking your head and referring me to some other agency/ online service/ call centre phone number."

Eventually after obediently jumping through the hoops and biting my tongue on my opinion of their customer service standards, I finally dealt with someone who actually LISTENED to my request, instead of heaping more forms on me and asking why I haven't done X, Y, or Z ("Because no one has asked me to do that before now" :mad:).

Anyway, it was a surprising learning experience for me also. And I am most grateful to the Centrelink employee who finally took 5 minutes to listen and understand my situation, then took another 60 seconds to complete the required actions.

Now I know who to ask for when I attend the local office, they have become an ally in my job searching, rather than a hindrance.

[d2dave]

I believe its just his own house but i can't remember the whole story but he said it was just too much paperwork and they weren't really interested helping him

He obviously was not too interested in getting benefits. Regardless of the paperwork, he is/was unemployed so has/had plenty of time to deal with the paperwork.

[nat_89]

Personally I believe all retired people should at least get the medical discount card regardless of their income.
The problem with payouts and centrelink is they don't align. If your a shiftworker or mine employee, your paid well over your base wage, which means you get made redundant your payout is at the base rate for x weeks. This means in the eyes of centrelink you have x weeks income before you can get any benefits. The problem is you where doing overtime and shiftwork /FIFO which meant you where earning double your base and your bills job searching etc eat through your payout far faster than the weeks on the slip. Be it forced or voluntary redundancy you should be able to get some help when needed, not when your x number of weeks pay has finished.
These are people who have worked and paid tax who are being punished instead of helped to get back and pay more tax.It's another case of hurting the majority to try and stop a few scammers. As Brian said 90% do the right thing, it's the 10% who they are trying to get with stupid blanket laws.

Yep and as said in another comment up there you need to get it all sorted to get your pay outs on lease cars and income protection and all that they just make it so hard to sort it out and just crap that you've been working in a mine job for a while never been on centre link ever and you have to go through all of the paperwork and rubbish just to prove your unemployed and get the paperwork to send off to income companies.

Exactly right there with the pay outs for mines wages most companies pay a base salary plus this much commute allowance this much shift work allowance this much away from home allowance and all of that so when you get your pay out its only calculated on your base wage in some cases not all your allowances which can loose heaps in wages there!!

[DiscoMick]

I'm sure the Centrelink staff get sick of people trying to scam them and then abusing them if they don't get what they want.

[Bigbjorn]

I can share another personal perspective on Centrelink:

I've been unemployed for 4 months, after being retrenched from work. As I received a pay-out, I was not in dire need of financial support. However my commercial unemployment insurance policies on things such as my novated lease, required Centrelink endorsement, to confirm I was "registered as unemployed" and "actively seeking work".

That's where my struggle began.

It took me 3 months to convince Centrelink to endorse my insurance claim. :eek:

Now I kind of understand the attitudes of the staff I dealt with, as they seem to have experience mainly with a certain kind of long term client. My mantra to them at every point of contact was: "It's not about the money. Please READ the document I am asking you to sign, before you start shaking your head and referring me to some other agency/ online service/ call centre phone number."

Eventually after obediently jumping through the hoops and biting my tongue on my opinion of their customer service standards, I finally dealt with someone who actually LISTENED to my request, instead of heaping more forms on me and asking why I haven't done X, Y, or Z ("Because no one has asked me to do that before now" :mad:).

Anyway, it was a surprising learning experience for me also. And I am most grateful to the Centrelink employee who finally took 5 minutes to listen and understand my situation, then took another 60 seconds to complete the required actions.

Now I know who to ask for when I attend the local office, they have become an ally in my job searching, rather than a hindrance.

I am surprised you found a staff member who would endorse your claim. Strictly speaking it was a matter for a Job Service Provider with whom you had registered as unemployed and seeking work. Centrelink's role is to provide income support so YOU can look for work. Your private sector Job Service Provider is the organisation that provides help in finding a job, and could inform an insurer that you are registered with them as unemployed and are actively seeking all forms of suitable work to their satisfaction.

[DBT]

I am surprised you found a staff member who would endorse your claim. Strictly speaking it was a matter for a Job Service Provider with whom you had registered as unemployed and seeking work. Centrelink's role is to provide income support so YOU can look for work. Your private sector Job Service Provider is the organisation that provides help in finding a job, and could inform an insurer that you are registered with them as unemployed and are actively seeking all forms of suitable work to their satisfaction.

You'd think that would be the case. However the local employment service provider was the first mob they (Centrelink) palmed me off to. As you say, that made sense to me at the time.

The provider looked at my resume and said "We can't really help you. We don't get skilled jobs coming up much. We provide basic skills training. Go look on Seek".

So I said "That's fine. Please just sign my insurance claim form and I'll be on my way".

Brief look at form. "Oh we can't sign things here. You need to take that to Centrelink. It says Centrelink has to sign it. We can't do that".

... and so on, for the best part of 12 weeks. Appointments, visits, phone calls ... negotiating with insurance company as to who could endorse the form; patience, persistence, thinking dark thoughts about the insurance industry; trying very hard not to lose my **** during countless conversations. etc. etc.

It all came down to one Centrelink officer reviewing my situation 12 weeks in to the process, After I had summarised my efforts and experience to date (With a calmness I didn't know I possessed). She said "This is a bit silly, I'm going to run this by my manager and see if we can't get this form filled in for you".

About a minute later it was done.

Of course all this time I'm applying for jobs, attending interviews and paying my lease payments. If I had found a new job before the claim was approved, The insurance company may have avoided a payout. And I would be left questioning the value of such insurance in the future.

[Bigbjorn]

You'd think that would be the case. However the local employment service provider was the first mob they (Centrelink) palmed me off to. As you say, that made sense to me at the time.

The provider looked at my resume and said "We can't really help you. We don't get skilled jobs coming up much. We provide basic skills training. Go look on Seek".

So I said "That's fine. Please just sign my insurance claim form and I'll be on my way".

Brief look at form. "Oh we can't sign things here. You need to take that to Centrelink. It says Centrelink has to sign it. We can't do that".

... and so on, for the best part of 12 weeks. Appointments, visits, phone calls ... negotiating with insurance company as to who could endorse the form; patience, persistence, thinking dark thoughts about the insurance industry; trying very hard not to lose my **** during countless conversations. etc. etc.

It all came down to one Centrelink officer reviewing my situation 12 weeks in to the process, After I had summarised my efforts and experience to date (With a calmness I didn't know I possessed). She said "This is a bit silly, I'm going to run this by my manager and see if we can't get this form filled in for you".

About a minute later it was done.

Of course all this time I'm applying for jobs, attending interviews and paying my lease payments. If I had found a new job before the claim was approved, The insurance company may have avoided a payout. And I would be left questioning the value of such insurance in the future.

Look at the situation logically. From the content of your posts I am assuming that you are not registered with a Job Service Provider as an unemployed job seeker and have not claimed or are receiving Newstart Allowance. So, how can a Centrelink employee honestly sign a declaration that you are unemployed and actively seeking work? They don't know you. You are not a client. You could make a statutory declaration to the insurance company and they would have to accept this. If you tell a Job Service Provider that you wish to claim Newstart and need to register with them, then they must accept you.

[DBT]

Brian,

If i shared every detail of my 12 week experience, then all your criticisms would be addressed.

Yes, I was registered with a job search provider. It was one of the requirements. I explained that experience above.

Yes, I claimed Newstart allowance. That is how one registers as unemployed with Centrelink. I am not eligible for Newstart, due to my pay out. Nevertheless, I was required to lodge a claim, in order to be registered, in order to claim on my commercial finance insurance.

As stated, for me it was not about receiving government assistance. It was about completing due process for an insurance claim. On a policy I had paid for. And was now in an unplanned position suitable to claim against.

Rest assured, I put all your arguments - and then some - to the insurance company. But they had their own due process, which I had to follow in order to achieve a successful claim.

I'm simply sharing the experience for the entertainment of others here. I do not judge any individuals I dealt with as part of the experience, regardless of how frustrated I felt dealing with them. They behaved in line with the systems and processes they managed. However when you do meet someone who can analyse a situation and think outside the square, it's like a breath of fresh air.

If I were to give an opinion, it would be in regards to the mis-aligned requirements of the insurance policy vs. Centrelink process.

If I was feeling particularly cynical, i might add that the process seems designed to exclude self-supporting unemployed people from the unemployment stats. But I wouldn't dare do that, for fear of sparking political debate. :D

[Hay Ewe]

I have spent a fair few hours over the last few weeks waiting in the fracture clinic at the local hospital.
Quite a sight there as well.

Me, I went over the bars racing mountain bike. Sure, I caused my situation but I think I keep my self healthy and fit but to see some that were there.

Sloths.
Two people yesterday didn't even have the decency to take their sunnies off when talking with the counter staff.

[bob10]

Brian,

If i shared every detail of my 12 week experience, then all your criticisms would be addressed.

Yes, I was registered with a job search provider. It was one of the requirements. I explained that experience above.

Yes, I claimed Newstart allowance. That is how one registers as unemployed with Centrelink. I am not eligible for Newstart, due to my pay out. Nevertheless, I was required to lodge a claim, in order to be registered, in order to claim on my commercial finance insurance.

As stated, for me it was not about receiving government assistance. It was about completing due process for an insurance claim. On a policy I had paid for. And was now in an unplanned position suitable to claim against.

Rest assured, I put all your arguments - and then some - to the insurance company. But they had their own due process, which I had to follow in order to achieve a successful claim.

I'm simply sharing the experience for the entertainment of others here. I do not judge any individuals I dealt with as part of the experience, regardless of how frustrated I felt dealing with them. They behaved in line with the systems and processes they managed. However when you do meet someone who can analyse a situation and think outside the square, it's like a breath of fresh air.

If I were to give an opinion, it would be in regards to the mis-aligned requirements of the insurance policy vs. Centrelink process.

If I was feeling particularly cynical, i might add that the process seems designed to exclude self-supporting unemployed people from the unemployment stats. But I wouldn't dare do that, for fear of sparking political debate. :D

:o Perhaps. 370,000 job seekers doesn't go in to 140,00 jobs. And that is not counting the one day a week workers , counted by Government. Doesn't count the ones that are made redundant, after the official statistics taken. Bob

[Rextheute]

Hmmm , I feel for those who cannot work for varied reasons - medical , family or social reasons . As a society we need to look out for them .

But there will always be a group who do not want to work ...

I've never been out nor lacking for work in 30years , and could not live on the 'benefits' thus I struggle to understand why wouldn't you find a job any job - I've had some shockers .
Also had my own business for almost 10 yrs and now run someone else's - oh it's a manufacturing business , and let me tell you finding staff is a challenge , no one wants to do ' labour ' it's all computers and Facebook ...

just ask my nephew , " want a job mate $20 bucks and hour 38 hrs a week "
Nah , I'm at uni and a bit busy ...
Righto busy scratching ya nuts and watching tv , Uni I only 15 bloody weeks this year .........


I enjoy my job , I like talking to people , I like delivering what they have asked for - and the product we manufacture , is a want not a need .

But everyone needs a job , and 95% of the population want one .

[Bigbjorn]

But everyone needs a job , and 95% of the population want one .

Rex, a considerable percentage of the working population do not want a job. They need a job for the money to live on. If they had a choice and the finances they would choose not to labour in your vineyard but to indulge in their real likes, such as fishing, golf, drinking, chasing pussy, etc.