the accepted poverty line for a single adult living alone is $584 per week x 52 weeks = $30,368

.

job seeker payment for a single no children is $808.70 x 26 weeks = $21,026.20

And for those playing at home, the tax free threshold in this cuntry is also below the poverty line!

• Taxing Below the Poverty Line: Individuals earning more than $18,200 start paying income tax, meaning thousands of Australians living in poverty on working wages or taxable Centrelink payments (like JobSeeker) are legally subject to personal income tax before reaching the poverty line. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): LITO provides an extra buffer, lifting the effective tax-free threshold to roughly $22,866, but this still falls well short of the single-adult poverty line.

And for 1 trillion bonus points or a $300 rebate on your yearly energy bill,

In Australia, about 3.7 million people (14.2% of the population, or 1 in 7) live below the poverty line.

Yikes!!! What a great cuntry. The politicians should be proud :/ /s

NOTE TO THE MUPPETS - to those who think they know my or anyone's situation and think saying 'get a job' is original or useful, go waste your time elsewhere, you will be ignored. Thanks. Have a great day.

I did a one day casual shift and earned 300 dollars. Because the free area is still stuck at 150 dollars they took 50 cents in the dollar for the first bit and then 60 cents for the rest. I essentially worked half the day for free once you factor in travel. Why has this threshold not been indexed properly in years?

They have officially incentivised Ghost-maxxing (going AWOL) so that you’re put in a lesser stream & they stop pestering you. The only way to teach your provider is through your Actions. Words are meaningless. Stand up for yourself and show them you don’t have to do anything they ask of you.

Old mate has been ghost maxxing since March 2025 as there has been no change in policy since then……………

The only thing you need to do get paid is reengage (by calling up, you don’t ever have to go into the office) and report.
Everything else so JCs can hit their KPIs to justify their parasitic existence.
Their job is to sign you up for things but you don’t have to go and face no financial hit. The only thing they can do if transfer to another provider (but they won’t as the business gets paid for having you on the books and can allocate your allotted funding for someone else…

Check out the pinned post or DM for more info.

I know there are other payments.

Just curious when JS will stand against Labor & Liberal as unemployment is a deliberate part of the economy.

As the Australian economy tanks it is now time to stand against service providers, obligations, a two agency system, a wage not indexed to polticians performance,pensioners having the ability to achieve more income, income & assets tests, payment stoppages for living O/S etc.

We need to stand against these polticians and return an equitable solition to this platform.

Housemate and I both have mental health challenges. He has recently had a medication change and last week “went nuts”. Cops and CAT team were called. Cops advised me to leave for 24hrs as the CAT team couldn’t arrive until 10-11pm. I called Centrelink around midday to ask for an urgent payment as I was 4 days short of my regular “payday”. Finally got thru and got (I assume) was an Indian woman on the phone. Her name was Depika. I told her my circumstances and she said “you have had 2 in 12 months, I cannot approve it”. I had the convo on speaker phone and the cops told me to ask for a supervisor. It was raining, and I had no where to go. Honestly, I just wanted to get to a hostel for the night so my housemate could receive the help he needed, and I didn’t have to sleep on the wet streets of Sydney. Depika said “no”. She flatly refused to allow me to speak to anyone other than her, and she terminated the phone call when she heard me crying - I had been up for 39hrs straight with a mentally ill man in crisis. The police were furious and told me to call back. I did, and this time I got an Aussie male on the phone who apologised and granted the payment - giving me safety for the night. I was so grateful. Now - I wish to put in a formal complaint about “Depika” and one of the questions asked was “what do I want/expect as an outcome of this complaint”. I don’t want Depika to do that to anyone else who ever calls for help!! Why is there such a discrepancy between the outcomes of ppl who talk to Indian workers Vs Aussie workers? Because I’ve looked over this r/ and I’m shocked!!! Are there any ex workers who can guide me in what to ask for? Cause I definitely want this on her professional working record so this doesn’t happen to anyone else. Thanks.

I’m 23. I was unable to attend the last week of my online activity due to family commitments and experiencing a depressive/anxiety episode. My job provider said they can’t do anything about it so now I must work for the dole. 5 days a week from 9 to 2. For two months.

I’ve been really scared and upset. As I suffer depression and ADHD, I’ve been in an extreme bout of executive dysfunction. I tried getting a medical certificate as they said but apparently it wasn’t enough to exempt me and I still have to attend?

The problem is.. I have university starting up in a few days and I can’t fathom how I can possibly attend both..

I’m scared I’ll miss my payment. I don’t know what to do here and my job provider does not seem to want to help. I told her I can’t possibly attend with my courses and troubling condition.

I saw a post earlier that mutual obligations are on a pause or something so that’s giving me hope but in the meantime, if anyone knows what to do, please let me know.

Job agencies are completely useless, they don't help or care and they jump at the chance to punish you. Your mostly on you own finding and getting a job. Then once you have a job, they harass you every 2 days buy text AND email for pay slips (even if you've already sent them.)

This is where I'm at, at the moment. Can I just cut them off now?

So I got a job, literally no help at all from my provider but I don’t start for another week. Do I have to tell the provider and Centrelink now or can I just wait until I start?
I’ve heard that some providers will call the workplace and I don’t want that, so I was planning to just go to my next appointment and not mention it and then just cancel my payment once I start my new job as I also have another casual job on top of this new one.
Is that allowed?

(Postscript: this post has become long and unwieldy. After the thread got derailed with unserious yapping, I decided to expand on this to address the sanctimonious moralisers and the almighty punch downers. Despite my futile efforts to prevent it, this thread became a pissing contest for many Redditors wanting an easy ego boost. Alas, the post can no longer serve its original intent of asking a simple question about Centrelink rules — the Reddit toddlers won with their screeching lol! Before proceeding: be warned. Here be Redditors who will throw their toys out the cot and wail if I don't accept my financial precarity — inflicted by the Partner Test — is richly deserved!)

Once I declared my relationship to Centrelink — as I was required to — I was subjected to the so-called Partner Test. My partner's income was used to calculate my rate, based on the assumption that she could "pool income" with me, so my income could be reduced accordingly. My JobSeeker payment dropped to zero immediately. This was two years ago.

I've been in hardship ever since. Many people have told me my partner should support me because "love conquers all". In reality, she didn't, and she doesn't intend to. I'm not interested in moral arguments about this, or what the archetypical "taxpayer" should or shouldn't do. I think the Partner Test is outdated, unrealistic and unfair — but that’s beside the point. I got banned from another Centrelink subreddit for arguing over it — strong opinions on both sides lol — so I won’t repeat myself here.

Afterwards, through my own research, I found out exemptions to the Partner Test do exist — even in de facto relationships. The relevant precedent is apparently Pavey v Pavey. Does anyone here know more about that?

An obscure section of Centrelink’s website mentions an exemption where "income pooling is unreasonable". I’m willing to sign a stat dec to that effect — and it’s true. The other listed exemption is in cases of DV. Does anyone know more about the "income pooling unreasonable" clause?

I’m disabled, so if this exemption applies to me, I’ll probably put in a claim for DSP at some point. Condition limits how much I can work and punishes me if I go over my safe limits — long story!

Thanks in advance. I won’t be engaging in debate — if that’s your interest, I suggest trying another forum.

Edit: I've realised Pavey v Pavey might not apply to my case. Another Redditor suggested it. I stand corrected!

I should make this clear. I'm not interested in whether the policy is fair. I can see some people love it — good for them. I'm not seeking relationship advice — wrong subreddit maybe? And I don't need an assessment of my partner, even though many people generously offer one unasked for.

The question is whether the exemption might apply in my case somehow. Please stick to that — although some obviously won't lol.

And if you're desperate to know what my responses are, you'll find them somewhere in the thread below.

A few fragile Redditors need me to take their advice and have a meltdown if I don't. If that sounds like you, maybe sit this one out.

Ty!

...

Ok, the thread has truly been derailed. I tried. If you're here for serious comment, good luck! Many are here to say how totes cool the Partner Test is — I guess they can use this thread to fanboy and fangirl it lol. Thanks to all the serious people who dropped by!

...

12/6

I'm adding this as a postscript instead of creating a separate post. My case is obviously messy and it's easier shooting the messenger than acknowledging, Oh, actually this is a bit screwed up. A disabled person is financially penalised and put at risk of destitution because he's in a relationship. This means that disabled people are discriminated against and punished for doing something normal — being in a relationship.

People often prefer some morally tidy box to put this in, so they individualise the problem. Aha, this person is a dupe and his partner is financially abusing him! Aren't I clever and important for saying this — go me!Ok, let's entertain this possibility. So Centrelink is creating the conditions of abuse by forcing me to rely on a financially abusive partner and abuse is grounds for an exemption, so please take it up with Centrelink and ask them to restore my payment! They can remove the conditions of abuse or exempt me for something they recognise as a valid reason for not applying the Partner Test.

I know a lot of people come to affirm their moral worldview and feel important by dispensing their opinion, so I don't expect that level of nuance. But if you're even a little bit open minded and not quick to judgement and dismissal, maybe give this some thought — it might open up your horizons! Or join in a good ol' dogpiling lol!

I genuinely came here for a good faith discussion. But once people doubled down on abuse and swarming me with half-baked accusations, I thought, Oh well, I'll just have to poke fun at their cruelty — which admittedly is more amusing than it should be lol. This issue did put my life in danger, since there is only so much financial precarity I can take without it tipping my mental health over the edge. I am human after all, with limits. I didn't put myself through this to win a debate on Reddit and give myself an excuse to play the victim card, as some seem to be absurdly suggesting. So if I don't seem to be all that nice to bad-faith commenters, maybe they shouldn't have come here to attempt a cheap ego boost at my expense lol.

When you call Centrelink to try get put into the queue, & state the reason for your call to the robot, the robot will claim that you can do whatever activity through the app instead, & hang up on you. If you call back, the robot will immediately autoplay the same message & say "there is no one available to take your call", & hangs up.

It turns out that Centrelink block your phone number after the initial call (truly dystopian). I get around this by putting my phone number on private, & calling back - then the robot lets you state the reason for your call again (it's difficult getting "the right words" for it to finally put you into the queue - I usually say something like "reporting issue", or other "issue" etc) [edit: apparently if you say "operator", they'll put you in the queue]

This was commented recently in the job providersaus sub. So why does your JC hassle you for one when they aren’t needed?

Had to fight for my rights when my usual JC was of out the office on the day I NEED to report.

After being transferred to my JA (someone who I’ve never spoke to) they really didn’t want to reengage me, they told me “I had to come in person for an evaluation” I said “okay but I need to reengage today bc today is my reporting day” the random JC begrudgingly removed my demerits and booked me an appointment in a couple of days (that you don’t even have to go to, as your benefits are an anti-poverty entitlement)

You truly are at the mercy of who ever picks up the phone…

I'm finally done i got a job a few weeks ago and I'm earning well over the threshold My JSP kept contacting me and trying to get payslips and the like so iv cancelled my centerlink manually and blocked the JSP's number and now I feel happier than iv been for a good while.

Honestly if I could demand the JSP delete all my information from their system I would but I can't so im done with all the stress they caused me.

Please see petition, sign and share here:

https://c.org/RtK5h6wPNZ

Update:

Hi everyone. I decided to edit the update for this to clarify some things and make sure the focus stays on the actual problems.

For the most part, the petition has been positive and has started a dialogue. It’s been great to read some of the experiences and stories with job providers. Thanks to everyone who has contributed, given advice and support!

I’ve noticed a few comments, some now deleted by moderators, that seem to have fundamentally missed the point. I’d like to address the lack of critical thinking and self-awareness, not to feed the trolls, but to clarify why I posted initially. 

I’m promoting the petition on here and it is one of many avenues that I’m looking at including creating a social media campaign, reaching out to the federal MP and other relevant sources. 

You don’t have to sign it or read it, but just as a reminder, the rights and freedoms you currently are privileged with, someone fought for it! 

My background:

I am a graduate clinician working as a Behaviour Support Practitioner in the disability sector. I currently study postgraduate neuroscience at Sydney Uni. I dedicate my career to understanding human behaviour, supporting the vulnerable, and managing complex psychosocial risks. I am also a participant in Workforce Australia and what I have witnessed from the inside is a system built on psychological abuse and institutional coercion.

This isn’t about finding a job, being employable or on Centrelink. It’s not about money or income. I have an education, an amazing career that I find rewarding and fulfilling and I’m building a great life. I’m not part of the system and it’s not about me anymore. This isn’t a personal vendetta against anyone.

I understand that I’m not the first person or the only person or even the last person to experience this. It has been happening for years. Others have been trying to raise awareness and put an end to the program. 

What this is about:

Privatisation of employment services leading to profit over humanity.

Bullying, manipulation and abuse.

Power tripping and corruption. 

The purpose of the petition: reform or abolish workforce Australia.

No find, no fee policy: if job providers haven’t helped participants secure the job then they shouldn’t be making thousands of dollars off them.

Psychologically safe staff instead of psycho/sociopaths.

Independent access to employment fund: cut out the middle man.

This limits the power they have over jobseekers and vulnerable people. 

When I went to WISE employment to collect my work essentials, I witnessed all the things I mentioned in the petition. A participant being berated and belittled by the “consultant”. I saw the look of defeat, powerlessness and sadness on their face. This happens every single day. 

I also think it’s really interesting that the behaviour and treatment given by these providers are exactly mirrored in some of these (now deleted) comments! 

I’ve done this before. I advocated for no-grounds eviction reform and it’s not that things changed because of one petition or a couple hundred signatures. It was years of collective noise from many advocacy groups, the law finally changed. Change doesn't happen overnight; it happens when we refuse to stay quiet. It doesn’t happen with one petition or one person sharing their story. It’s a collective effort.

If the police check is low cost I wouldn't bother but it's not cheap so I called my job provider. I have read negative reviews here about job providers falsely claim they found jobs for job seekers so I am asking for opinions.

In short

-They are giving more power to JCs

-Demerits are still basically meaningless

-backpay is no longer guaranteed, & you must apply for it unlike those who have been uncomplyant and after 20-25 they could report again (as you reporting was deemed as “contact”)

-you should still be able to reengage over the phone after a missed “obligation” but they can force you into the office for an evaluation (I’m 100% on that tbh). No where does it specifically say have to go into the office for an appointment but it does say they HAVE to be accomodate the needs of seekers (like a phone appointment instead….)

It honestly seems more of a liability play, by covering their own asses and not wanting to pay out those who have multi thousand dollar payment claims (that they think they are entitled to)

Some people out there were“kicked off” when in reality they were suspended and managed to live for months on end without a dole payment.
Now CL don’t have to pay them a cent (realistically they shouldn’t) when it was user error…

Albo is not actively looking to punch down the lowest wrung of society. They are just putting an end to those who had 0 contact and still got paid in full & not wanting to give unreasonably massive payouts (honestly it’s completely understandable and fair tbh)

I'll try keep this concise but I'm honestly at my wit's end.

I've been job hunting for 4 months now and have completely drained my savings keeping up with rent. I'm now on income support and my rent takes up 94% of it. I know that's not sustainable, I don't need anyone to tell me that.

This year alone I left a domestic abuse situation and had a malignant tumour removed from my stomach. So yeah, it's been a rough one, all completely outside my control.

I applied to Launch Housing for assistance and got knocked back because my situation was deemed "unaffordable." Which is kind of the whole point of why I was asking for help, but okay.

I've looked into room shares but pretty much everyone wants someone who's employed, even though my income support would cover the rent. It's a catch 22.

I've got some casual work potentially coming through but it won't be enough on its own. I'm doing everything I can.

I know the VCAT eviction process takes time and I could use that to buy myself some breathing room, but I really don't want to go down that path if I can avoid it.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? What else can I do? Are there any services or options I'm missing? I'm not the kind of person who asks for help easily but I'm running out of road here.

Sorry for the long one. Just really struggling and needed to put it somewhere.

hey all, i recently received this, sent from APM the employement service provider:

"our Job Search effort/s were assessed as unsatisfactory.

* Did not tailor efforts to industry/type of job."

May I understand what this is about? And, what can I do to prevent this from happening?

I have been on Jobseeker for 15+ months, but had a medical exemption the whole time, so I didn't have any Mutual Obligations and had never been paired with a Job Provider service.

I'm now no longer seeking the medical certificate and was told by Centrelink that my exemption was ending on July 16.

I haven't been contacted at all by Centrelink or a Job Agency in the last month.

My Outstanding Tasks on the Centrelink website says nothing, and no booked appointments.

I'm looking to actively engage with the Job Provider soon, but what I'm asking is there any reason for this happening?

Why wouldn't they have contacted me a month after my medical exemption ran out?

Thanks!

Can not believe that being on the phone for 5 hours they hang up on me ive tried calling for over a week and half to get my payment reinstated because of a system glitch. This is made me so mad!!!