Unemployment Payment Help

justhooked on 23/03/2020 - 00:46
Last edited 23/03/2020 - 01:01

Hi trying to understand the unemployment payment minefield could someone point me in the right direction

I’m out of work now (53) and my wife (55) has been cut back so earns as of this week about $850-900 including tax per week but will be cut back more soon.
No kids at home . What is the cut off for unemployment payments or any benefits ( how much can we earn before getting cut off )
Looked online but hard to understand
We can survive at the moment but if the wife gets cut back more we will be in trouble.
I know many are a lot worse off than we are just trying to understand where we stand,.
Any help understanding would be appreciated

Education & Work

Comments

  • garetz on 23/03/2020 - 00:57
    +2

    You can apply for unemployment till retirement.

  • Hybroid on 23/03/2020 - 00:59
    +2

    You may be eligible for supplements: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/news/more-f…

  • trustnoone on 23/03/2020 - 01:26
    +8

    I'm assuming you don't fall under the other options such as ones you can find here (carer for a child, career for an adult, aus study etc):

    https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/pa…

    In which case you'll probably be on jobseeker payment from here:

    https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ce…

    Where you need to be:

    you’re between 22 and Age Pension age
    your income and assets are under the test limits
    you meet residence rules.

    As well as looking or a job etc.

    I think partnered your max you can get is

    $510.80 each
    https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ce…

    You start losing your money until you reach a certain threshold, which is:

    Your income per fortnight || Amount your payment reduces
    up to $104 || $0
    $104 to $254 || 50 cents for each dollar over $104
    over $254 || $75 plus 60 cents for each dollar over $254

    https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/topics/inco…

    I'm not sure if theres more to it as they say your payment goes to nil when you reach

    $993.50 each (partnered) per fortnight
    https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ce…

    I'd check the link above though, as you may fall under a different category?

    Keep in mind you may also be elligible (and may change the above) for rent assistance, or other things that may help you.

    Also keep in mind that you'll be classed as a job seeker, this may mean you'll have to come in for monthly meetings, you may have to search for other jobs (say x amount a month) with proof such as keeping a log and possibly be doing workforthedole program, How to make a CV course, how to interview course etc. Though considering the virus right now, that may not be going for a long time.

    • justhooked on 23/03/2020 - 09:19

      Thanks will try contact them today 👍

  • WreckTangle on 23/03/2020 - 06:28

    As long as one partner works don’t think the other can clain unemployment..

    Further, cos you both worked this financial year it will affect your fsmily tax benefit

    The rules suck

    • justhooked on 23/03/2020 - 09:20

      I thought it has all changed with the virus, no asset test or waiting time ?

  • Slippery Fish on 23/03/2020 - 08:10

    Go talk to them now, took them 10 weeks to process me the only time I needed centrelink. It lead to me eating hotdogs and a $1 loaf of bread for a week with no idea what I would do the week after as I had $4 left lol.

    • justhooked on 23/03/2020 - 09:22

      Hopefully you have recovered and can at least buy food now

      • Slippery Fish on 23/03/2020 - 10:10
        +5

        I got my new job, doing well now! :)

    • D C on 23/03/2020 - 20:31

      OzB really does not have a sense of humour.

      • Icecold5000 on 23/03/2020 - 20:35

        Lifters not leaners mate,

        • D C on 23/03/2020 - 20:57

          Glad I bought my $80,000 investment vehicle.

  • justhooked on 23/03/2020 - 10:55

    Well that’s great my gov has crashed , can’t handle the load

    • Ocker on 23/03/2020 - 11:46

      To be fair, any system is going to crash when over 26 million people try to log on at the same time (lol)

      • justhooked on 23/03/2020 - 11:52

        True will hold off and let others needing it more than me try first 👍

        I will go out looking for toilet paper instead using tissues at the moment 🙁

        • MatthewTeng on 23/03/2020 - 13:18
          +1

          Big W has been good for toilet paper recently, everyone's running to Coles. Though they were out today, told me they don't restock it on Mondays.

          They had 2 pallets sitting on the floor for 2 days straight in Garden City last week. I didn't check other days.

  • julesio on 23/03/2020 - 10:55

    As a sole trader, my prospects have all dried up completely over the last week but I am continuing to chase leads. I am eligible, but I have no idea how this is going to work. MyGov does not have the infrastructure to deal with the crisis and I'll be curious to see if Centrelink will have the capacity to change the web forms for people to sign up for payments (as they are now advising that no one goes into any of the centres).

  • justhooked on 23/03/2020 - 11:00

    Found this calculator going by it may get $12 a F/N 🤷‍♂️

    https://www.centrelink.gov.au/custsite_pfe/pymtfinderest/pay…

  • justhooked on 23/03/2020 - 11:10
    +2

    Well don’t call after going through all the self service crap to get to speak to someone they say sorry call back and hang up .
    My gov is down or crashes when you do anything
    And online info is not up to date

    Will have to try later

  • Drakesy on 23/03/2020 - 13:09

    Recently retrenched and went through the same process last week.
    First application for newstart/jobseeker allowance was rejected for no reason with no feedback provided. (can't reopen cases once rejected)
    Second application stalled in the system (presumably due to the increased applications)

    Basically it's a test. If you are dedicated and hard working at getting centrelink you will succeeed, if you don't have the motivation then they'll make it as hard on you as possible.

    From the sounds of it you'll get newstart/jobseeker allowance which is approx $500 a fortnight, soon to be temporarily doubled to ~$1000 a fortnight.

    Keep applying and eventually you would have jumped through enough hoops to satisfy them

  • jdawgz on 23/03/2020 - 22:37

    Hi everyone, just attempted to log into MyGov and inputted the correct password a few times and now it says that my account has been permanently locked forever??? Anyone else have this issue?

  • johndowy on 24/03/2020 - 15:01

    Curious what kind of financial position you are in.

    Do you have assets?
    Savings?
    Super?

    • justhooked on 24/03/2020 - 23:24

      Hi yes luckily own house and car , small amount of savings little super . Unfortunately bills still come in and this time of the year is when I get most so savings will soon go . Wish the state government would reduce our bills ( car rego power water gas ) and local government reduce our house rates .

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