I guess Matt and I will have to break up then.

[gemfyre]

Because I can't afford for us to live together.

I just wasted 2 hours of my life for Centerlink to tell me that I'm expected to live on nothing because I sleep in the same bed with someone who has "too much" income for me to elligible for anything. Congratulations to the government for giving some couples reason to break up.

Thank God I have some savings left. And I hope I get that zoo job and that my knee is good enough to start it right away. Or at least if I can find a mundane office job in the near future.

If I had no savings I guess I'd have to learn Jesus' trick with the loaves and fishes.

Comments

[jet-ski.livejournal.com]

That or Matt should quit his job so you can both end up on govt support payments. ;)

The current social security system actually discourages people from working in some instances, because of the severity of the cut offs.

How much does he have to earn to completely preclude you from any payments at all?

PS an office job should be easy to find! Just register with some temping agencies... I'd do it now just in case they take forever to decide on the zoo job.

[(Anonymous)]

You have been selected for the government breeding program. Either make babies or starve.

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

Curse you lj and your suddenly dodgy cookies - that anonymous comment was me.

[lotus79.livejournal.com]

Agreed, it's utterly ridiculous. In fact, "ridiculous" is nowhere near a strong enough word. I suppose from their point of view he's meant to assign you half of his income in return for the "benefits" you provide. So what's that make you? I thought prostitution was meant to be illegal?

This is why I always put Luke down as a roommate, not a partner--financially he isn't, after all. Which bed I sleep in is none of their goddamn business and nothing to do with money.

Damn I am so glad to not be a Centrelink slave anymore. Rage.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

that is retarded and depressing all at the same time, but centrelink has let me down so often that it's also somewhat unsurprising. :( :( :(

have you thought about setting up a second room (do you have one?) with a bed and say that you're not together? that might not work though now, but still, it might be worth a shot.

i'm sorry this has happened though. centrestink is such a depressing organisation. it doesn't really 'help' at all.

[glittery-girl.livejournal.com]

Aren't Centrelink awesome? I'm so glad they're in charge of payments...

Poor girl :(

[purrdence.livejournal.com]

When Drhoz got really sick with Reiter's, I was in Japan. He applied for Sickness benifets and got told that I should quit my job in Japan and I should come back to Australia to support him. Basically because he was married, Centerlink didn't want to know him.

Never mind I would have broken contract with my employer in Japan, leaving me stranded in Japan (my contract only gave me a return flight if I completed the whole contract). Never mind I was thousands of klicks away and unable to send money to him quickly. Never mind I wouldn't have had a job when I got back to Australia and would have had to go on Centerlink benifets.

[marzipan9.livejournal.com]

you don't need to break up, you just need to move to the US, because if you're not married, the gov't doesn't count ANYTHING of the partner. :)

[shirazz.livejournal.com]

I'd say to make some quick cash come work where I do at Swan Taxis - the staff turnover is huge so they're always looking for people. I work 2 days a week & clear $320, granted it's night weekend work but it might be a good stop gap. The only thing is there's 2 flights of stairs to get into the call center. Centrelink are shit. They penalise people who are partnered with no kids.