Work for Dole?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

There are examples of people having their benefits cut off because they missed an appointment because they were seeking a job or were studying at TAFE.

---

I would imagine that IF those people had of rang up and explained PRIOR to their appointment that they were unable to attend because they were looking for a job or any other VALID reason then they would have been able to reschedule that appointment without getting their dole cut.

Some examples include people who couldn't pay their rent because Newstart is so low and became homeless, so they didn't get the letter ordering them to an appointment, so they didn't go because they didn't know, so their payments were cut off. This happens frequently.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Some examples include people who couldn't pay their rent because Newstart is so low and became homeless, so they didn't get the letter ordering them to an appointment, so they didn't go because they didn't know, so their payments were cut off. This happens frequently.

---

Now you are just clutching at straws, Centrelink send text reminders about appointments and even if someone hasn't paid their phone bill they can still receive text messages.

No, I know people who get letters.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

No, I know people who get letters.

---

You get both letters AND text messages.
There really is No excuse for missing an appointment and if someone has a VALID reason why they cannot attend that appointment I am Certain that a simple phone call will let them reschedule the appointment to another time/date.
When you apply for the dole you agree to certain tasks and attending appointments is one of these and just like at work if you don't show up you don't get paid simples.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trout1105

Now you are just clutching at straws, Centrelink send text reminders about appointments and even if someone hasn't paid their phone bill they can still receive text messages.

---

The procedure is this. If a Newstart recipient is selected to attend an interview at Centrelink (not at the Job Service Provider) by either the system or an assessor When the client's next fortnightly form is mailed out a separate letter is mailed requesting they contact the office to arrange an appointment for a compulsory interview. The fortnightly form is also endorsed next to the signature block "Interview required". Some do not call to arrange an interview and just try to lodge their form. The receptionist should notice the interview required endorsement and ask if they have arranged an interview. The common answer was "No". So they would just have to wait until the interviewers could fit them in usually after 1.00 pm as the morning interview appointments were normally fully booked or the next day. There was often a temper tantrum at this particularly when the client was informed that the payment would not be processed until the interview was completed. I usually commented that they had the letter almost two weeks ago and had plenty of time to call for an appointment.

Thanks.
What happens if they haven't received the letter, maybe because they are no longer at that address?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Thanks.
What happens if they haven't received the letter, maybe because they are no longer at that address?

---

If they received the fortnightly form then they can hardly claim not to have received the letter. Client's responsibility to advise changes to circumstances which includes change of address and client's responsibility to ensure they receive mail. "Not at address per Field Officer's Report" was a valid reason to cancel benefits. On Stradbroke Island there was no mail delivery. Mail was collected at the post office. Some of the lazy b's only went to the post office every fortnight to pickup their form, fill it out and post it back (postal lodgement was then permitted from the bay islands. No more). Some even put it back in the govt. envelope and marked it return to sender.

I work for the dole.

I work, I pay tax, other people collect the money from Centrelink....

Hakuna Matata - Circle of Life

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

The procedure is this. If a Newstart recipient is selected to attend an interview at Centrelink (not at the Job Service Provider) by either the system or an assessor When the client's next fortnightly form is mailed out a separate letter is mailed requesting they contact the office to arrange an appointment for a compulsory interview. The fortnightly form is also endorsed next to the signature block "Interview required". Some do not call to arrange an interview and just try to lodge their form. The receptionist should notice the interview required endorsement and ask if they have arranged an interview. The common answer was "No". So they would just have to wait until the interviewers could fit them in usually after 1.00 pm as the morning interview appointments were normally fully booked or the next day. There was often a temper tantrum at this particularly when the client was informed that the payment would not be processed until the interview was completed. I usually commented that they had the letter almost two weeks ago and had plenty of time to call for an appointment.

---

Generally speaking but NOT always, these random appts with Centrelink are to satisfy Centerlink that they are able to contact the client. Centrelink can then prove to the auditors that they are able to contact the client without having to breach them to get their attention.
I don't know about the current Centrelink contract but in the past Centrelink had to be able to demonstrate that they can contact the clients. If the client attended the appt they were marked as attended and that stood as evidence for the auditors.