The First Few Days of Government Benefits in Aus

Going onto government benefits recently after many of my family and friends have been advising me to, I am already regretting it and here is why.

My first day at the dreadful place of government-based-job-hell was... interesting. (If you're Aussie, you'll know exactly where I'm talking about; I just won't identify it) My experience certainly wasn't pleasant. It consisted of me being treated like I was scum as I attempted to sort my plan with one agitated woman, and then as I was sat at the computers setting my account up, I sought help from another woman. It must have been hard for the second woman helping me get the questions completed to set my account up, because she refused to return when I asked for help the second time.

As some may know, you used to have to fill out a book and take it in. Not anymore. All the job searching stuff and your account is on computer and mobile now so if you hate technology, be ready! Relying more on technology in a rural country area will be great fun for me!

My next dilemma was to get a Tax File Number to go on my account. The government-based-job-hell was no help with this one, providing me a small form-like booklet to fill out and take to the post office. The next day I went to take it to the post office, and as it turns out they only do them online as well! I ended up sitting there in the car park to reluctantly it all out online before going back into the post office, where I finally got the receipt. I then returned to the government-based-job-hell, only for the woman (the crappy one from the day before who was slightly nicer the next day) to reveal hopelessly that she couldn't find me on file. Cue anxiety-filled me sitting awkwardly in their waiting area before talking to the other woman from the miserable day before and getting stuff sorted.

Fast forward to the day after.

A lovely man from 2 states over called to chat and book an appointment for me. Don't even ask me how or why the guy was helping from so far away instead of locally, but he was pleasant enough to talk with, especially at 8 in the morning, so whatever works!

Then, yesterday.

I turned up at my newly appointed job provider and chatted with a lovely woman. The appointment was straight forward and easy, informing me of what my requirements are: 17 jobs to apply to within a fortnight. In addition I was booked in to an appointment for a group, which is apparently all the other job seekers sitting around together making Resumes.

It sounds like a lot of... fun.

As someone who has volunteered much of my time, I wanted to give back to the community whilst getting/doing a job. However, they don't allow you to get benefits, apply/do a job and volunteer a few days  so that option is out for me. Unless, of course, you're 55 or over, then you can perform 15 hours of volunteer work). Which does make me feel a bit crappy about it.

If I've learnt anything so far, yes, you do get paid from roughly anywhere between $300 to 500 a fortnight, but you can acquire much more money at a job like Aldi who pay about $24 an hour here. The benefits of getting a job, in this instance, would be you aren't a slave to the government, so to speak. You won't have to deal with the people running you down as you sit there taking it because there are signs everywhere telling you not to be even a little bit hostile to them or you get kicked out. Not to mention the obvious fact that they work for the government and you're applying to be on government benefits. And you won't have to deal with them schedule appointment after appointment.

Just a little added tip for the newcomers who think payments come instantly, they don't.

I went for my first appointment about a week ago and my benefits are actually in the wind until in about 3-4 weeks time. They, in addition, have the rule of attending all appointments and completing your job search every time it is due or else they'll cut payments after a few strikes against your name. So there's that to think about too.

I'm already discovering a few issues, but I will stick with it for now because there are no jobs at the moment available that I am qualified for in my area and there is no way I am going through all of this for nothing.

There may possibly be more on this as I slowly descend into madness instead of being able to actually get a job!