"Australia welfare benefits are too generous"

[the_bob_delusion]

Discuss

[katistrophik]

While I freely admit there are the bludgers, lets face if some people can rort a system they will, they just see it as their right.

But for the genuine, I am 59 years old and lost my job 12 months ago, I was not in a good position due to financial disasters NOT of my doing sadly and it is akin to starting again, at a time I really don't have the energy or inclination. [That sounds bad too, but it is how I feel]

You can imagine how many people are interested in employing a near 60 year old when they can train up a youngster for a whole lot less money and a heap of Govt subsidy's to assist.

I am not saying woe is me, I am a lot better off than many, but make no mistake - NO ONE on a benefit is LIVING the life of riley.

[not to you Icy, just hit reply automatically ]

[the_great_she_elephant]

I feel for you Kat. I can only imagine what it would be like to be in that position.

What always makes me angry is thatt he harder it is to get a job, the harder the governent make it to get jobseeker. I notice that together with the miserly increase in payment, there is now an obligation for recipients to apply for 20 jobs every month. I wonder how much that $4.00 a day will help with travel costs for  interviews - always provided you are lucky enough to get that far. 

[domino-710]

That is virtually one interview every business day of the month.

Just checked the $4 doesn't cover ($4.20) bus fare one way to the closest larger town to me.

Kat 

[myoclon1cjerk]

No one's living the good life on about $300-$350 per week unless they live in Thailand.

[katistrophik]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

I feel for you Kat. I can only imagine what it would be like to be in that position.

What always makes me angry is thatt he harder it is to get a job, the harder the governent make it to get jobseeker. I notice that together with the miserly increase in payment, there is now an obligation for recipients to apply for 20 jobs every month. I wonder how much that $4.00 a day will help with travel costs for  interviews - always provided you are lucky enough to get that far. 

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Thanks ele, honestly I do okay, I share accomodation and while not what I would choose if I could, I am fine.

As I say many have it waaaay worse, and I really feel for them. A neighbor of ours is a carer for her husband. He has had an attrocious time with Cancer. Her greatest fear [apart from losing him, which is very likely to be soon] is how she will manage on her own.

Not everyone has pithed away their money, many many different things can happen to anyone beyond their control.

I don't know how it could be fixed, but something needs to be done, our elderly [not me] should not be facing homelessness in their twilight years, and some are

# Cheers Dom, but in truth I can get a bus for $1.80 using a consession card - mind you I can't afford to go anywhere or buy anything [just kidding and putting a light spin on it] As kopes said Life is Good

[myoclon1cjerk]

*sigh* Some people just don't appreciate how well off they are.

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/02/25/jobseeker-rate-increase/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=em...

[myoclon1cjerk]

https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/welfare/2021/02/25/higher-unemployment-benefit-lower-rates/

[*tippy*toes*]

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@katistrophik wrote:

While I freely admit there are the bludgers, lets face if some people can rort a system they will, they just see it as their right.

But for the genuine, I am 59 years old and lost my job 12 months ago, I was not in a good position due to financial disasters NOT of my doing sadly and it is akin to starting again, at a time I really don't have the energy or inclination. [That sounds bad too, but it is how I feel]

You can imagine how many people are interested in employing a near 60 year old when they can train up a youngster for a whole lot less money and a heap of Govt subsidy's to assist.

I am not saying woe is me, I am a lot better off than many, but make no mistake - NO ONE on a benefit is LIVING the life of riley.

[not to you Icy, just hit reply automatically ]

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Mr Tippy will be 59yo this year. 3 years ago he left his job, as dealing with the after effects of cancer was too much, and he didn't want to be away from home. He tried to get local jobs in his industry, but as soon as they knew he'd been sick, that was it (he has been cancer free for nearly 5 years, but the effects of the surgery are obvious).

So, he went outside his comfort zone and applied for a job at the local hosptal as a cleaner. He along with (I think) 8 other people got a job. There was another lady around his age, and the rest were under 25. 2 years later, he is still there. The older lady lasted about 6 months, the juniors were all gone inside 3 months.

There have since been many more put on, and only the older people stay. The youngsters feel it is below them, plus so many youngsters can't stay in the same job for more than a year. They are now leaning towards employing older people because they are more reliable...........and they turn up.

Is it Mr Tippy's dream job? Hell no, but at his age, and with his disability from surgery, they were accommodating, and the work, and hours, suit him. He has chosen to remain a casual, as he has more flexibility in his hours if he's not feeling well. It also means he gets casual loading, which really boosts the pay packet up each fornight.

I was out of work for 18 months in 2004/5. I got $15 a fortnight from the dole due to Mr Tippy working part time. I started work for the dole from day one. It kept me motivated and gave me an extra $20/wk. I tried all sorts of different short term jobs (that Centrelink put me in touch with). One of them was making polystyrene balls. There were times we had to seek help from Vinnies for food and help with bills. That was humiliating after always working and paying your way.

The fact is, while job options may be limited due to age, especially if you have worked in the same industry all your life, they aren't non existant. You would be surprised what you could get at your local hospital, or even the supermarket. Our local Woolies seems really keen on employing over 60's these days, because most on the checkouts are. Both men and women. I think places are getting sick of the youngsters being too unreliable.

As for welfare, yes, I do believe the dole is too much. It is meant to give you a leg up until your find a job. It's not meant to fund your lifestyle because you don't want to work (you meaning generally, not you as in you). While they had increased the jobseeker allowance, people were screaming for staff, but no one would apply, because they were getting more on the dole than they would have had they were working.

[katistrophik]

Thanks tippy, I actually needed to read that.

Life isn't over at 60 and I have got a lot to offer, so I will continue plugging away at it

[katistrophik]

Just want to put this out there too - Re: COVID

I could not understand the increase in Jobseeker, I really couldn't and I still can't.

As far as I am concerned (and this is just me remember) but because I had NO JOB to lose, interviews for jobs were NOT allowed in person, so no costs to get to them, WHY did I need (qualify for) the extra money ?

My son definitely needed it, he is in Hospitality and they were shut down early on - 25th March, so he needed the payment to live and pay bills as did many, but it cost me no extra money during COVID, and I can not for the life of me imagine it would have cost other 'unemployed jobseekers' any thing extra either.

What am I missing?