Hello,
I've lost my job around 8 months ago and now considering applying for centrelink payment.
I've been looking for a job for a while but couldn't secure any.
I have money in the offset account but it's offsetting my home loan. Overall net balance would be in negative.
I have a baby coming very soon and my wife is on half-pay maternity leave at the moment.
Is it worth applying for centrelink payment and what is the best way to do it, considering money in the offset account?
Yes, but more of a question on what is the best way to do it.
How many different ways are there to apply?
You have to show income, accounts etc, so just apply. There's no hiding any money.
If your family is earning more than $100k or so you won't get any benefits, not even job search help.
How much is in the offset?
You are the type of person our welfare system should help. Unfortunately, it is geared towards those who chose not to work and want to rip off the system. I feel that home ownership could make it hard for you, and it shouldn't.
Home ownership will not negatively impact one's application in so far as eligibility, obviously it excludes extras like Rent Assistance.
I get the feeling a lot of people seem to think home ownership is a "right". Why? Where does it say anywhere that everyone is somehow entitled to own their own home no matter what?
You shouldn't have a right to a home, but you should have a right to work and buy one at a reasonable price.
That's so vague and meaningless. "Work"? What if I'm happy spending my days working 30hr weeks at Woolies checkout, think that should buy me a home anywhere too? And what's a "reasonable price"? Because that sure as hell can't mean "affordable to everyone". How about - market value? Because that's the best way of determining price and value that we have.
OP….just apply, it can be done online and should be straight forward. Just know there are obligations on your side that you agree to undertake like continually looking for work or training.
Many people would call them hoops to jump through, but that is a horrible attitude.
You should have applied immediately after losing your job.
It doesn't mean that you will receive immediate payment however it is noted/logged so if any payment was to be made, it would/may be in retrospect.
I would definitely apply and ensure that you are absolutely honest declaring your assets & what ever questions they may ask that could affect their decision.
I would go in person.
Good luck.
Cheers
I have been in their office and they told me to apply online, not particularly helpful.
Unfortunately, that is the new wave of psuedo-customer service.
DIY so they can save money, cut costs and retrench staff.
It's so sad that it is becoming commonplace.
I guess that you have no choice but to apply online.
Also, tried to ring their main number, got "Busy signal" and hangs up.
I was hoping to secure a job within a few months after losing my last job and it has taken longer than expected this time around.
@vinni9284: Yes, am in the process, but can't decide whether to keep answering them. There are quite alot of questions. I know its not meant to be easy but they seem to be quite involved.
I guess you would now have time considering that you are not working?
I'd rather go through this comprehensive process then guessing you may have a job next week.
I understand it can be rather cumbersome … paperwork required, separation certificate … etc however IMO you deserve to receive payments to keep you afloat until you get another job.
Ensure that you can save the application form for future reference.
Cheers
Yes, online. But you still do it in their office, that way you can ask questions while doing the entry
Apply for it, but dont rely on it. You need to self-study how to get a job, self-study yourself for the qualities you can bring to a different occupation (if need be), and progress financially with an income.
The welfare system is there for people in your situation, so do make the enquiry and effort. But your situation needs a lot more, so start with the resources you have, make a lot of notes that you can work with, and make progress towards advancing your situation.
its all about you
Applying is a pain because many people are very concerned somebody might get some assistance to which they were not absolutely entitled.
All the same, you should persist and apply. If the worst happens and you are still without work in a while, it will at least have given you a little breathing room.
You might not get it due to your wife's income. But you may as well apply, what is there to lose, except a stranger knowing some of your life details?
Govt. Govt knows your pay/income details anyway, unless you're dodging income tax.
You're allowed up to $380,500 (Couple Home-Owner) before Centrelink payments are removed so if you don't have more than that then apply for Centrelink.
nm
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centre…
Please note, they aren't going to offset your loan principal against your offset account balance, whats in your offset account counts as your assets in the assets test.
Thank you
What if OP transferred all/partial of the money from said offset account and placed it in the loan account. Then draw down if he needs it.
Does this then show as an asset still?
And sorry to hear about your bad luck finding employment, chin up, soldier on old boy!
There's a 1 - 13 week waiting period (where you won't receive payments) from when you claim depending on how much you saved up. The threshold is really high though.
Usually this is back dated from the time you lost the job. Well it was if it is not now.
I thought part of the requirements of receiving the allowance was doing all the employment service provider stuff, such as the regular appointments and filling out a record of jobs you've applied for?
I'm talking about the waiting periods depending on your assets.
The payments are only back dated to when you applied.
It is never backdated to when you lost your job. It is only ever backdated to when you first applied.
Yes!…apply! Well worth it! Go to a Centrelink office and talk to them.
should have applied day 1 as there is a waiting period.
Anyway, start the application tonight, you have 2(?) weeks to complete it
Also, centrelink doesnt want to know you physically, everything is online, except the ID parade. If you go in, they'll just tell you to go online
Sorry to hear m8
Your top priority though should be finding a full time role. Dont think $240 a week is going to cut it these days
Trust me it's better than nothing.
apply and learn what you can about them. you will need all the money you can get to survive this rough patch. it will help you get innured to their lack of service when it becomes critical.
Not sure what benefit you'd be eligible exactly, but at least with Newstart Allowance, there is the mutual obligation requirement, which means you need to be applying a certain amount of jobs per fortnight. Which you of course should be doing anyway, as you are looking for work. Also I think you are required to report your partner's income too.
It's a lot of work and honestly stressful. I basically ended up leaving Centrelink because my job network person was a douchebag (it was a scary move, but I was lucky enough to find work soon after, even though I had been looking for ages). Basically, even once you're on Centrelink, they will try their hardest to waste your time and make the whole thing unpleasant, but if you actually need it you don't really have a choice but to put up with jumping through hoops for them.
I have only ever claimed once that I can recall and I agree CentreLink are frustrating to deal with. But at the same time that combativeness of dealing with them also kept me motivated in my Job hunting.
I can see that. I was in a relatively good position to find a job, but I can't imagine dealing with that attitude if I were homeless or having other troubles.
I once applied for the carers payment, for a family member who was terminally ill, and I couldn't believe how lovely and punctual that section of centrelink was. It really drove home how deliberate the usual attitude toward newstart recipients was.
Just remember centrelink treat money in an offset account the same as a savings account you may be better to pay into the home loan with redraw facility so they don't include it.
Apart from listing all income, you may need to list all deemed assets as well. Your home as mentioned is excluded.
Centrelink have been pretty good overall I've found. If you're eligible they are likely to help you get your entitlement, as opposed to hindering or anything.
My vote: Apply. You've paid taxes. This is partly what they're for. Best luck.
centrelink is not some automatic entitlement because you paid tax.if you lost your job 8 months ago you should have really applied 5 months ago.
Apply - whats the worst that can happen?