Centrelink - Newstart requirements

x1x1x1 on 18/09/2017 - 21:59
Last edited 19/09/2017 - 01:37

I am currently on new start for the first time ever and a bit unsure about a couple of things, have tried to get in touch with my job search provider and no response. I don't have another appointment with them until the 6th of October and would rather not spend an hour on hold to Centrelink . So Iam hoping someone on here has experience s something similar or knows a bit more about this process.

Part of my job plan is to apply for jobs and attend interviews etc I am currently employed but as it's only as casual even though the hours are pretty consistent at around 25hrs per week. The lowest amount I have for the next month is 20 hours. I still have to apply for jobs which was okay as the more work the better. Today though I recieved a job offer which I accepted but it is a full time temp job for 6 to 8 weeks just before Christmas which is great but now this plus my current job means I am pretty packed with work for a few months and I feel it is unnecessary for me to apply for more work until closer to the end of my temp job/ after Christmas as I am unable to comit to full time work between now and then.
I still have a few interviews to attend this week. But I would like to keep on newstart(payments won't be recieved) Incase I don't have as many hours after the Christmas break and it's easier to stay in the system rather then re applying.

So I guess my question is how many hours a week do you have to work before applying for work isn't necessary and is it X amount of hours for X amount of weeks ? Also how long can you not be ellegible for payments before they cut you from the whole system and will it make a difference with my work only been a temp role ?

Thankyou :)

Education & Work

Related Stores

Services Australia
Services Australia

Comments

  • citygal on 18/09/2017 - 22:19

    Why don't you ask Centrelink directly? Or just search their website?

  • argonide on 18/09/2017 - 22:23
    +3

    You'll be cut off when you earn more than $1,036.34 in a fortnight and run out of working credit.

    You shouldn't be receiving Newstart anyway if you're consistently working 25 hours per week.
    Assuming minimum wage is $18.29/hr + 25% casual loading = $22.86/hr * 25 hours per week * 2 = $1,143.12 > $1,036.34

    • x1x1x1 on 18/09/2017 - 22:33

      Thankyou :)

      I have only just started working after my last payment came through . So I haven't had to lodge hours yet so no idea how much it will go down to. Also reporting period and working periods can differ. I only know my hours as I have the rosters for the next month.

      Casual rare during the week and then a weekend rate but I usually only work 4 or 5 hours on the weekends at the moment. And then. Public holiday rate but haven't worked that yet
      So won't take long to not be elligbale for payments but I still have to apply for jobs according to my job search and attend appointments as the work isn't "consistent/permanent" which is fair enough as it is technically a casual position

      • x1x1x1 on 19/09/2017 - 22:37

        Also you have to stay on newstart even if you don't receive payments until you receive full time work or you arnt eligible to get payments for 6 consecutive fortnights they then assume you are working "full time " if you drop below the hours for even a week and receive a payment even if it's only $20 the time starts again

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 18/09/2017 - 22:23
    +1

    I don't know but I imagine Centrelink doesn't make special concessions for Newstart.

    Assuming I understood the question, I know the answer to the second part is the end of 6 consecutive fortnights of nil payments (http://guides.dss.gov.au/guide-social-security-law/6/3/2).

    • x1x1x1 on 18/09/2017 - 22:35
      +1

      Ahh awesome thanks I couldn't find that page . I wonder if it will change because it's only a temp role

  • trustnoone on 18/09/2017 - 22:59

    No idea if its true, but I remember my provider saying 35 hours a week otherwise you keep having to search for jobs and going to provider meetings. If you have a meeting with them though, they should be able to decrease the amount of jobs you have to apply for depending on how much work you're doing (I think they can decrease it to zero).

    Also you can usually call them if you have work and get them to reschedule, hopefully you can get them to constantly reschedule but sometimes its a pain. I remember having to take time off from my internship (decreasing my KPIs and thus my chances of getting the full time job) to attend a crappy meeting for my provider to ask me why I'm having trouble getting a job urghhh.

    • x1x1x1 on 18/09/2017 - 23:06

      Ahh that's a bit annoying :/ do you remember if they said it's 35 hours a week for x amount of time ? And yeh I have a meeting with them but it's not until the 6th October due to grand final weekend they postponed it to three weeks instead of two. But hopefully by then my temp contract has come through and I can show them I will have 40 hours of work for 6 weeks and they can reduce my job application numbers.
      I just feel it's silly, annoying and a waste employers time applying for jobs and and if successful attending real job interviews as I know I won't be able to commitment to a full time job until after Christmas.

      That's annoying :/ sometimes I feel they are a more trouble then they are worth but unfortunately it's what has to be done

      • spackbace on 19/09/2017 - 00:15

        I just feel it's silly, annoying and a waste employers time applying for jobs and and if successful attending real job interviews as I know I won't be able to commitment to a full time job until after Christmas.

        Shouldn't you be striving to get a full-time job asap and a) stop working on a casual/temp basis, and b) get off the government/taxpayers dime?

        • x1x1x1 on 19/09/2017 - 00:29
          +3

          Gaining full time employment is and always has been my goal but the temp role is a really good opportunity for me and as I have already accepted I will not be withdrawing from the role.
          Once I am available to comit to full time work I will continue to apply for jobs daily as I do now and attend all interviews but until that time I am not going to leave a job and reject a opportunity like I have in front of me. At the end of the day work is work and casual/temp is better then not working at all. Especially when the next three months has full time + hours

          I have worked full time for 6 years and this is the first time I have ever had to go to Centrelink for some help and I have only recieved two payments before I became employed again. I have no intentions of staying on the dole forever and not working that is just not who I am.

        • peterpeterpumpkin on 19/09/2017 - 01:42
          +1

          @x1x1x1:

          No one should feel guilty for working non-permanent or non-full-time roles in 2017. The 1987-esque work-life mindset is out of touch with the reality of future economies.

          Untalented, insecure people are much more likely to stick to a permanent role with a single employer. And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being untalented or insecure or sticking to the first company that accepted you out of school or uni. People are different.

          But I will say that people that work many jobs probably work at twice the efficiency of your average Australian full time worker. And probably spend less time in meetings and tea rooms over their life times.

          P.S. Perhaps I'm unfairly generalising full time workers but it's OK since many of my closest government-employed acquaintances work full time. Some even worked their way up from a Centrelink desk clerk!

          P.P.S. (Semi)-joking.

        • x1x1x1 on 19/09/2017 - 01:51

          @peterpeterpumpkin:

          Thankyou very much :) I definitely don't feel guilty at all about it . I work just had hard if not harder doing casual/temp work then some full timers I know and atleast I work and I get out there and try and yes I'm on Centrelink but I don't sit around waiting for payments I still go out there apply for jobs daily and a have had a lot of interviews lately.

    • x1x1x1 on 19/09/2017 - 22:08

      Found out it is if you work consistently
      20 hours or more a week it's 10 job applications a month
      Anything over 35 is 0 job searches a month but if your job is full time you will just get off anyway

      • trustnoone on 19/09/2017 - 22:11

        Interesting to hear, thanks for reporting back mate! I appreciate it.

        • x1x1x1 on 19/09/2017 - 22:13

          That's okay and you still have to do this even if you arnt receiving payments cause youve earnt to much.

          Also apparently if you are working casual/temp role and get offered a permanent full time position you must give up all other jobs and accept the full time one even if you are in the middle of a contact

  • Birchy on 19/09/2017 - 09:42

    Stand outside centrelink and wait for some deadbeat that has been on newstart for the last twenty years and ask if you can do an internship with them and they will have full knowledge of all requirements needed to maintain newstart you will ever need. All jokes aside spend the hour on the phone find out properly or you will find yourself spending more time on the phone or trips to centrelink to sort out any mistakes made and face it you just wasted five minutes reading this dribble you could be on the phone right now.

    • x1x1x1 on 19/09/2017 - 09:48

      I am currently at work and tbh have better thing to do with my time before and after that then wait on hold to Centrelink and that's only when the number actually works.
      Also as mentioned above I did say I will double check with my JSP before I submit/ don't subtmit any changes to my job plan. This was to just get a rough idea as I can get my hours increased before my full time temp job if necessary

      Also whoever spends 5 minutes on a phone reading a small paragraph of written must be pretty slow :/

  • x1x1x1 on 19/09/2017 - 16:26
    +1

    Finally heard back from Centrelink and if you are offered a permanent full time role you must cease all work with any other companies and take that role :/
    No work = 20 jobs a month
    20hours a week = 10 applications a month
    35 hours a week = no applications

    Even if you are not eligible for payments

    • x1x1x1 on 19/09/2017 - 20:26

      I understand that a full time role is obviously better for you and a better opportunity but it's pretty rude for them to expect you to just up and leave a job especially in the middle of a contract. Atleast the requirement is a lot less :)

  • Ithinkimtheking on 20/09/2017 - 21:02

    I'm in a similar situation working on average 20 hrs a week, my job provider has lowered my job search to searching for 8 jobs. After 5 fortnights of no income from Centrelink they will cutoff the allowance I have heard from my provider.

    • x1x1x1 on 20/09/2017 - 21:56

      Yep that's basically right as long as they are all consecutive:) atleast they have dropped it to 8 a month that's easy done

      I was pretty annoyed when they said you have to cease all employment with current employees when you are offered full time work that's why I was trying to get mine cut down to 0 as I have a two month full time temp contract starting in november and I don't want to have to leave that

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join