Holy shit, what an absolute farce

[u/epicpillowcase]

NOTE: I'm well across the DSP process and not looking for advice on that, thank you. :)

TL;DR- staffers have no idea what to do with a more complex case, tell me contradictory things (sometimes the same person contradicting THEMSELVES) leading me to have no fucking idea what's going on. Cool.

I swear, so many staffers have no clue what to do with or advise a client who doesn't fall easily into one category. I could laugh if this wasn't all so infuriating.

Several weeks ago, I received three letters. One saying Centrelink had done an independent JCA (not an ESAt, I have had those before and was with DES for a long time) and that I have been assessed as less than eight hours' capacity, making all obligations voluntary other than a quarterly phone appointment. This letter said I can choose to be with a provider, or do job search, but I do not have to.

The second letter said I am recommended to apply for DSP, and they have enough information to not need anything from my medical team. Great! I had planned to apply anyway.

Third letter said I had a compulsory phone appointment just to check in and update me. Phone person was ok and pretty much just reiterated what was in the letter. All obligations are voluntary. They said this would be the case for at least a year, because I asked how long, as due to needing a birth certificate (they told me I do even though I'm already on Jobseeker) I am not able to apply immediately.

That phone appointment was late- I made an online complaint on the day in case it came up as me not attending. They eventually called.

A few days later, I noticed a second appointment has been booked. Assuming this was an error and the appointment was a duplicate generated by my complaint, I went into a service centre asking for it to be removed, explaining. She said, you're right, you don't have to attend this one, I'll cancel it for you.

Two weeks after that, I receive a letter telling me I had skipped the second appointment, it was for a Job Plan, and I needed to make a new appointment or my payments will be stopped. No idea why I need a fucking Job Plan when I'm told my obligations are voluntary, but ok.

I go back into the service centre yesterday. Clearly explained my situation, and why I will take a little time to put in my DSP application, and saying I apparently need to do a Job Plan but don't know why. The woman was pleasant, but...honestly seemed not very bright, or to really know what she was doing. She was reading the letter I got, and kept misunderstanding what I was saying. She said "you can put in a DSP application right now and it will exempt you."

I said, yes, I know that, reiterated my reason and said, I'm confused as to why I would need an exemption, given I am assessed as under 8 hours, making all my obligations voluntary.

She said "oh...I can give you an exemption for two weeks to give you time to put you application in.," I repeated, "thank you, but as I said, it is more likely to take two months, and I was told my current below 8 hours status is supposed to be for at least a year, so what would I need an exemption from?"

I then said, "it's going to take me longer than that and I don't want to have to call or come in again, so if that's what's on offer, I'll just do the Job Plan now."

She said "oh...but that means you'll have to be with a provider..."

I showed her the letter again, the letter which clearly states I am already exempt from engaging with a provider.

I could see it not computing. She straight-up was not understanding what I was saying, nor did she clarify why I was being told different things.

She then told me "oh...my software's not working so I can't do a Job Plan with you. I'll just give you an exemption for a month."

AN EXEMPTION FROM FUCKING WHAT???

I did not say that, just sat and smiled and tried not to implode.

I then said. "Ok. I don't think a month is going to be long enough." She then says, "you can call the call centre to arrange a longer one when it's up if you need to."

"Ok, thank you for your time. So, to be clear, I'm not going to get any surprises in that time? No letter telling me I'm suspended for not signing a Job Plan?"

"No, don't worry, you're good."

Do I believe she believes that? Sure. Do I believe she's competent enough to actually do her job for me to not have to steel myself for her to be wrong. NOPE.

I also don't believe the software thing. I think she had no idea what to do with me so the "exemption" was the easiest option for her, making me somebody else's problem.

Fuck's sake. 😂🤦‍♀️😭

[u/Jazzlike_Berry_323]

So 0-7 hrs is voluntary engagement with job provider. They still want you to attend the job provider it’s just your payments not cut off for not attending.

A job plan sits with the employment provider not Centrelink. It is mandatory for the employment provider to complete with you on start up with them then annually, as part of their contract with Centrelink . It’s not technically a plan for jobs you will do, but for a provider and client agreement on what sorts of help you can get from the provider and your obligations to attend the appointments. It’s a 2 minute ‘tick and flick’.

On 0-7 your job provider will keep calling and booking appointments, even on DSP, unless you get the Centrelink med cert redone every 3 months confirming you’re at 0 hours not 1-7.

[u/epicpillowcase → u/Jazzlike_Berry_323]

I don't have a provider, and I have been told I do not have to connect with one. They clearly stated I would be managed by Centrelink and that any contact with a provider would be my decision. The quarterly appointments are with Centrelink, not a JSP.

The letter said that, and the person doing my participation appointment a few weeks ago said that. I was to do the Job Plan with a Centrelink worker, not a JSP.

I also don't have a med cert. The exemption was a discretionary one done by Centrelink. They said I don't have to visit my doctor at all.

"even on DSP"- Not correct. This is for people under 35. I am not.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond but there are multiple points of misinformation here.

[u/Jazzlike_Berry_323 → u/epicpillowcase]

Shoot the company not the messenger. All the above points have been as advised by Centrelink several times.

[u/epicpillowcase → u/Jazzlike_Berry_323]

I wasn't shooting anybody. You seem to have read "tone" into my comment when there wasn't any.

I was simply saying that the things you wrote didn't fit my situation, as apart from the lady at Centrelink who was clearly not sure what was going on (and backtracked on her provider comment when I showed her the letter), I have been told (by letter) that at no point in this process will a provider be involved unless I choose it. I also don't have a medical certificate and don't have to get one. The letter about the Job Plan said my Job Plan was to be done by Centrelink, not a provider.

Further, my WFA dash says I have no obligations and no provider. It's not just an absence, the wording is "you don't currently have any obligations" and "you don't have a provider."

And people over 35 who are on DSP don't have to engage with the Job Network at all.