Thread: BLOODY CENTRELINK.

Marios original post seemed to be a very common issue.
Same here.
Originally I got made redundant back in March last year, and due to stuff ups and lack of interest by the agency I was listed with, confusion as to when I'd get my next job found me unemployed last year for 6 months.
Finally got my job in Nov in the tourist industry, and now this drama unfolds.
I arranged work with a contact via brother, but tha6t's taking longer than expected.
So technically I have two 'jobs', but can't get any work for probably another 4 weeks or so.

I expected the delay, so planned ahead and applied for jobseeker early on.
Had to upload stupid amounts of paperwork already in their system! .. eg. confirmation of separation from ex! .. daughters birth certificate, and the kicker for me ... my last pay slips from last known employment history they understood me to have had.
That last one was the major issue. They wanted a payslip from my agency where I did some work for SES, last back in May last year, which wasn't my last workplace.
How do you explain this stupid situation to a file server/internet website. My last employment(ie. payslip) was from the bus company I work at in this tourist dependent industry.
Only way to correct it was to go into centrelink, but the advice given is to apply online.
How do apply online, when there clearly have wrong info, even tho they know I got off unemployment in Nov and started working for the bus company, not the SES!

Had to explain this to the counter idiot that I can't apply online, because online services are FUBAR when they have it all wrong, have all my info that they're asking for(no problem to re send it all, just the stupidity of it all).

Anyhow, had to wait a not unreasonable hour in line to get in the door, then another hour and half in the offices having explained to counter idiot(that online applications are too inflexible!).
In 5-10 mins all got sorted with the nice girl at the desk, she laughed when I told her I have two jobs, but can't get work .. all paperwork sorted without me uploading anything .. like I said they already had it all.
All I had to upload were a few bank statements .. easy peasy late at night, and process finalised quickly.

Once again, I'd rather not be on benefits .. pathetic amount that they allow($500ish per fortnight!) .. but ATM no option till this new supermarket work finally comes through for the bloke I'll be working for soon.

MyGov is easier to get through lately, but some services on the centrelink sites are still not accessible.

maybe its time to do away with centrelink and replace it with a BUI. significantly lower overhead of managing the system, everyone is covered. no fuss.

I dread to think of how i'll deal with my next reporting date. I'm a pensioner who has (actually, "had") a casual bus driving job doing morning and evening school bus runs,,Would that make me Casual or part-time ? - Dunno, whichever costs my boss the least !)
Last one was last Friday 3 April. BAD timing.... Started accessiing my mobile phone app on late Thursady night ("Friday" in ACT time) till Friday till late in the eveing. All I get was "You have no tasks...." which makes it impossible to report income.

In that App, there is a display of your last and next payment. Both were correct, LAST reduced for the income received - and the NEXT payment was full amount for No income , to be paid Monday 6 April as $750.. Sure enough $750 comes through, but the bank statement carries the new description of PENSION ECONOMIC SUPPORT, not the usual CENTRLINK PENSION.
Does this mean the $750 Economic Stimulus / Vote Catcher has been substituted for the $750 Age Pension that was promised on my app a week earlier?
- Government changes name and gets out of paying it's lawful due ? Or are (part-time working Pensioners) not in line to receive this stimulus package?

I've resigned myself to losing large chunks of pension as the Govt claws it back to pay Pollies THEIR pension, but why make it so impossible for us to comply... with such horrendous consequences if WE make an error. Easily solved, even without reducing their gravy trai, Just Means Test THEIR parliamentary pensions (at whatever generous level they want,) but let Centrelink administer it.
Like ours.


EDIT: - sleepless night (unhealthy) and at 0515 WED., finally managed to log in and belatedly report my Final Wages. Now I can sleep well.

Surely this kind of behaviour, incompetence, bait & switch tactics is going to add to our annual suicide rate.

Originally Posted by superquag

[I]Would that make me Casual or part-time

In industrial law employment is defined as full time, part time, casual. Full time is a 38 hour week worked in equal instalments over 5 days. It has award conditions like annual leave, sick leave, Leave loading, paid overtime, penalty rates etc. Part time is less than 5 days and more than 2 and has award conditions like FTW. Casual is on call ad hoc and casual workers are paid a loading to compensate for the lack of the aforementioned award conditions. Casuals are paid at a higher hourly rate to compensate for lack of conditions. You should be able to work out for yourself how you are employed and paid.

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

In industrial law employment is defined as full time, part time, casual. Full time is a 38 hour week worked in equal instalments over 5 days. It has award conditions like annual leave, sick leave, Leave loading, paid overtime, penalty rates etc. Part time is less than 5 days and more than 2 and has award conditions like FTW. Casual is on call ad hoc and casual workers are paid a loading to compensate for the lack of the aforementioned award conditions. Casuals are paid at a higher hourly rate to compensate for lack of conditions. You should be able to work out for yourself how you are employed and paid.

Maybe in Utopia, not in the real world.