Tag: jobseeker

The 35-Day Rule

Even though I spend an awful lot of time looking at health and welfare stuff, I have A LOT to learn about the stuff that affects older people (generally 65 years + in Australia) outside of my brief grasp of the Aged Pension and how it differs from DSP.

This week’s learnings were about the 35-day rule in NSW public hospitals for “Nursing Home Type Patients“. A “Nursing home type patient is when you’re finished needing the hospital treatment for whatever you came in with (and also anything else that came up along the way) and you’re basically just receiving the level of care a car home would give – this include regular medications if they don’t need adjusting, toileting and shower and other personal care support, and accommodation and meals. After 35 days at this level of care they can start charging “at a rate equivalent to 85% of the aged pension” for care and board.

If you get sick in that time (eg you have another stroke or you get a UTI or a hospital acquired infection) you can moved back to being a regular patient and not charged, but the clock doesn’t reset. Once you’re deemed back in maintenance mode they start charging again.

This is meant to encourage people to get their wiggle on in getting their Nan into an aged care placement. Which might be a nice idea to the bean counters, but families have very little influence on getting those placements once they paperwork is all done. Which are usually done within a month if there’s social work support to do so.

There are no aged care beds anywhere, so charging a daily fee isn’t going to get Grandma into care sooner, it’s just another stressor on the family regardless of whether they can “Afford” it or not. There’s no bed for fee paying residents or fully commonwealth supported ones. If anything this fee should be on the federal government if it’s to incentivise a placement.

After 35 in a hospital after you're deemed well enough for discharge but are stuck because you're waiting for an aged care placement NSW health starts billing you an amount equiv to 85% of the pension for board and care. It can be waived for hardship but yeah should be billed to the feds.

— đź’ś phonakins 🍉🌲 (@phonakins.com) 2026-08-20T11:18:31.961Z

The 85% is of the single pension rate, which is going to be $1237.70 a fortnight from September 20, or $933 for a member of a couple. It can be waived for “financial stress” which would anyone relying on the pension for their income, and certainly screwing over the partner of the person stuck in hospital.

Social Security Payment Parameters 20 September 2026 indexation Rates Pension Rates Pension — Single — Resident Component (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Sep 2026 Increase Basic Rate $1,100.30 $1,135.40 $35.10 Pension Supplement $86.50 $88.20 $1.70 Energy Supplement $14.10 $14.10 - Typical Total Rate $1,200.90 $1,237.70 $36.80 Note: also applies to residents temporarily absent (weeks 1 to 6). Note: also includes illness separated, respite care or partner in gaol. Pension — Partnered (each) — Resident Component (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Sep 2026 Increase Basic Rate $829.40 $855.90 $26.50 Pension Supplement $65.20 $66.50 $1.30 Energy Supplement $10.60 $10.60 - Typical Total Rate $905.20 $933.00 $27.80 Note: also applies to residents temporarily absent (weeks 1 to 6).

The other indexation rates for September 20 are here.

With the scaremongering news that rents are looking to go up 30%, the $2 a week rent assistance increases are, as always, laughable. My rent will increase in December, waiting to see by how much. Last year it was $50/week with the signing of another 12 month lease.

Commonwealth Rent Assistance Commonwealth Rent Assistance — SSAct — Maximum rates Family situation (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Sep 2026 Increase Single $219.40 $223.80 $4.40 Single — Sharer $146.27 $149.20 $2.93 Partnered — Illness separated $219.40 $223.80 $4.40 Partnered — Temporarily separated $206.80 $211.00 $4.20 Couple $206.80 $211.00 $4.20 Commonwealth Rent Assistance — SSAct — Rent thresholds Family situation (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Sep 2026 Increase Single $154.80 $157.80 $3.00 Single — Sharer $154.80 $157.80 $3.00 Partnered — Illness separated $154.80 $157.80 $3.00 Partnered — Temporarily separated $154.80 $157.80 $3.00 Couple $250.80 $255.80 $5.00 Commonwealth Rent Assistance — SSAct — Rent ceilings Family situation (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Sep 2026 Increase Single $447.34 $456.20 $8.86 Single — Sharer $349.83 $356.74 $6.91 Partnered — Illness separated $447.34 $456.20 $8.86 Partnered — Temporarily separated $430.54 $439.14 $8.60 Couple $526.54 $537.14 $10.60

And with the increasing unemployment rate, more are waiting on their extra $8.10 a week and for it to have already disappeared into the nether. Jobseeker Payment Rates Note: some of the following rates may apply to Special Benefit recipients. JobSeeker Payment — Single — No dependent children Component (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Sep 2026 Increase Basic Rate $808.70 $824.90 $16.20 Energy Supplement $8.80 $8.80 - Typical Total Rate $817.50 $833.70 $16.20 JobSeeker Payment — Single — With dependent children Component (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Sep 2026 Increase Basic Rate $866.00 $883.30 $17.30 Energy Supplement $9.50 $9.50 - Typical Total Rate $875.50 $892.80 $17.30 JobSeeker Payment — Single — Principal carer of a dependent child Component (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Sep 2026 Increase Basic Rate $866.00 $883.30 $17.30 Energy Supplement $9.50 $9.50 - Pharmaceutical Allowance $7.00 $7.00 - Typical Total Rate $882.50 $899.80 $17.30

So, mum’s in purgatory, but a slightly quieter one after moving to a smaller hospital, but not the private one that rejected other the day they said she was moving and was packed up and transport on the way, the one that at least two staff at the current hospital have said she should go to and a couple more expressed surprise at the rejection.

A lime green paper coffee cup with a black lid and sleeve sits on a dark wooden picnic table. The cup sleeve features black text and graphics including Central Catering, Go Market, and a small illustration of a building on a hill. To the right of the cup is a clear rectangular plastic container with a blue latch holding two rectangular slices of frosted pink cake. A metal fork rests inside the container on top of the cake. In the blurred background other drink cups are partially visible including one with a yellow logo. Bright sunlight creates a strong glare from the upper left.

So we wait, drink lots of coffee, keep calling the same places just to see and I unfortunately am getting a new area of welfare and health to specialise in complaining about.

It’s August apparently.

If you like this post, have learned something from this or my blaterings on the socials, or just want to help me pay for coffee and petrol (the new hospital is just as far a drive but parking is less crap), my wishlists an paylinks are here.

Indexation is not an increase, especially if we’re looking at petrol and other hikes due to war

Indexation amounts were released last week, and I’ll personally be getting $10.25 more a week in my DSP and rent assistance. See all the details in the tables here.

Social Security Payment Parameters20 March 2026 indexation Rates Pension Rates Pension — Single — Resident Component (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Mar 2026 Increase Basic Rate $1,079.70 $1,100.30 $20.60 Pension Supplement $84.90 $86.50 $1.60 Energy Supplement $14.10 $14.10 - Typical Total Rate $1,178.70 $1,200.90 $22.20 Note: also includes illness separated, respite care or partner in gaol. Pension — Partnered (each) — Resident Component (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Mar 2026 Increase Basic Rate $813.90 $829.40 $15.50 Pension Supplement $64.00 $65.20 $1.20 Energy Supplement $10.60 $10.60 - Typical Total Rate $888.50 $905.20 $16.70
Pensions from March 20
Commonwealth Rent AssistanceCommonwealth Rent Assistance — SSAct — Maximum rates Family situation (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Mar 2026 Increase Single $215.40 $219.40 $4.00 Single — Sharer $143.60 $146.27 $2.67 Partnered — Illness separated $215.40 $219.40 $4.00 Partnered — Temporarily separated $203.00 $206.80 $3.80 Couple $203.00 $206.80 $3.80 Commonwealth Rent Assistance — SSAct — Rent thresholds Family situation (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Mar 2026 Increase Single $152.00 $154.80 $2.80 Single — Sharer $152.00 $154.80 $2.80 Partnered — Illness separated $152.00 $154.80 $2.80 Partnered — Temporarily separated $152.00 $154.80 $2.80 Couple $246.20 $250.80 $4.60
Rent assistance amounts from March 20

As always, they start accumulating from March 20, so no one sees the full increase pain into their account until at least April, and not til mid-April for some. Standard single JobSeeker is getting a $15.10 a fortnight “boost” (*voms*) as the gov and media love to call it. $7.55 a week isn’t exactly a powerup.

Jobseeker Payment RatesNote: some of the following rates may apply to Special Benefit recipients. JobSeeker Payment — Single — No dependent children Component (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Mar 2026 Increase Basic Rate $793.60 $808.70 $15.10 Energy Supplement $8.80 $8.80 - Typical Total Rate $802.40 $817.50 $15.10 JobSeeker Payment — Single — With dependent children Component (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Mar 2026 Increase Basic Rate $849.90 $866.00 $16.10 Energy Supplement $9.50 $9.50 - Typical Total Rate $859.40 $875.50 $16.10 JobSeeker Payment — Single — Principal carer of a dependent child Component (per fortnight) Previous Amount 20 Mar 2026 Increase Basic Rate $849.90 $866.00 $16.10 Energy Supplement $9.50 $9.50 - Pharmaceutical Allowance $7.00 $7.00 - Typical Total Rate $866.40 $882.50 $16.10
Jobseeker rates from March 20

Of course, the ACCC had been “asked” to keep an eye on fuel prices, but that’s just about all they’ll do – watch. I can do that too. Which is why when taking the recycling this morning we went to the lil servo and garage at Mirabooka for fuel. I handed them the $50 note Dad had given me and the 5c coin from my Gudetama coin purse and topped it up.

They say we might see an interest rate rise because of the extra inflation of fuel costs and the impact that will have on food and transport costs. I’m sure that in itself will put brakes on already stretched waged-households spending, but sure throw an interest rate hike on top. Gotta play the numbers.

Nearly paid off the power bill, then it’s rego for the Corolla next month. Our  household spending is certainly not all that wild. but as long as Maxi has food and treats we’re going fine.

Just do the little things to stay sane so you can rage against the big ones

Content warnings – suicide, death, social murder

Just sorting out my meds this morning, making sure I’m ready for another week. Looking after me so I can look after me and then look after others.

rainbow day and night pill box

We lost another community member.

David’s death is at the hands of the politicians who talk about helping others but leave them in the gutter. That put maintaining the status quo of more investment properties for themselves and their mates over having a public housing safety net for all who need and want it. Who want to make sure that the NDIS is seen as tough and efficient but can’t get back to applicants with supports and then make them reapply all over again, but oh look there’s another barrier because a report is now out of date or their drivers license is expired and so they can’t make ID points.

I’m tired and angry and sick of all this and it doesn’t have to be this way but those in the powers that be in governments and social services keep it this way.

Like, is this a good news story from the weekend? Daniel was repeatedly and illegally cut off his meagre welfare payment, surviving off the small amount his father was able to give him to pay for his medications. Daniel was made homeless by an uncaring system that can’t even get his own processes right. Daniel is getting nearly three years back pay – but that is only $52k. And he held off revealing his story until that was paid because through fear it would be withheld by a system that’s known to dish dirt on the poor and vulnerable to protect its own image and keep its system working.

They have learned nothing from Robodebt except that they can get away with it. That Daniel and David will be blips on their radars, that no matter whether it’s the red or blue team they can sweep them aside and keep their jobs or move into better ones. Royal commissions and NACC mean shit when Scotty’s got a new job and Bill Shortens robot got binned but people are still out there dying because the “Welfare” system doesn’t care about the welfare of the worst off.

A screenshot of a news article from the Sound Telegraph by Ava Berryman, dated Wednesday, 15 October 2025.The headline reads: "New SecondBite charity warehouse helps The Crew feed more locals suffering from food insecurity."The main image is a photograph showing a person in a high-visibility vest holding a cardboard box filled with fresh produce, including lettuce and red onions. The box has the SecondBite logo on the side with the tagline: "Ending Waste. Ending Hunger."The caption under the image states: "A new charity warehouse helps feed more hungry locals. Credit: Supplied"The text from the article snippet reads:"The launch of a new $2000 \text{sqm}$ warehouse in Kewdale could see about 20 million more meals per year provided to those in need through the help of one of Australia's leading food rescue organisations, SecondBite.The warehouse will help tackle food insecurity head on, with a goal to increase the amount of food rescued in WA by one million kilograms per year over the next two to three years."

Kylea Tink is Foodbank’s new CEO. You may remember her as a teal independent, but now she’s pretending to make a difference by expanding the amount governments and individuals spend on food relief – on the food itself, on the warehouses, the trucks, the fundraisers and the branding. Oh the branding. She joins former NSW Premier John Robertson who’s the NSW CEO. Because we need multiple layers of CEOs.

They’ll put out press releases about how many are going hungry and how you too cold help out by giving their particular organisation (or OzHarvest, or Second Bite) money to fund x amount of meals or a food hamper. These press releases rarely mention that this poverty is manufactured by supermarkets that would rather over order and over change and feel good donating excess stocks than running their businesses at slightly less profit but still making a motsa and not creating food waste. Or the politicians that give another grant for another warehouse, another charity another photo opp to support the needy, but could lift so many out of this situation with a nimble piece of legislation that lifts welfare payments above the poverty line. Or at all levels buying and building public housing (States and Federal and even local councils) so that people can be immediately housed rather than renting hovels through layers of community housing providers that don’t provide guarantees of tenure.

Poverty has risen over the three years of a Labor government, and people are dying. People are dying because they’re being left behind. They’re not able to afford to feed themselves properly or to attend to their health care – people can’t afford to go to the doctor or to buy the meds their need to stay healthy. NDIS is cutting supports that are working for people while telling us that no, noone’s losing supports and here we are losing our minds. Being house should be a given but relying on the private market when public housing has ten year wait lists and crisis accommodation is two weeks in a seedy mote with a dozen others at the worst points in their lives is certainly not helping anyone.

It’s a thousand straws on each camels back, and they all carry so much weight. People can’t do it alone but too many are forced to. And they struggle on and if they get the hand their need to make it through they just might. Is that hand going to be on a case by case basis from and for an individual or will our governments actually step up to provide the supports that people need? To everyone?

So I’m going to take my meds that I’m blessed to be able to afford and  stay strong for myself so that I can look after myself so I can look after others.

In terms of mental health numbers, in NSW I’ve found the mental health helpline useful for support for myself and others. There are other services and ideas listed on that page. Lifeline also has sms and online crisis chat in certain hours as well as the usual phone – 13 11 14.

All apologies, no action – Mutual Obligations must go NOW

Been doing some reminiscing of sorts in preparations for the 5th anniversary or the COVID supplement and the long pause of “mutual” obligations. I was NOT in a good place back then, but I was getting the covid supplement after my hours got dramatically cut after disability respites and day programs closed down and we got cut to minimum contracted hours wherever they could place us in residential settings. I was then still getting it when I did eventually lose my job, and was looking at my bank statements shocked to see my total Newstart payment (single) including rent assistance was only $90 less than my (partner) DSP and rent assistance now – $970 vs $1061.60.

We’re getting the “boost” of, I’m told, 0.4% thanks to low inflation from March $20, which’ll take it to around $1065, give or take. Thanks Labor!

The best part of getting DSP was the removal of mutual obligations. It left me free to participate in therapy, do my little advocacy stuff, help family and friends, and just exist peacefully as possible. I’ve actually been doing a small amount of paid work in the past year, mostly online, but also exam supervision and before that election work. Stuff I can do when I have the energy and mental capacity and things that take my interest. I’ve had people approach me about applying for (social) media work with more hours, and I’m not up for that yet consistently but yeah, I’m starting to see more how that could work for me, and for them, and the knowledge that I might actually be a useful engine is nice. It’s also great to know that I do have the DSP to back me up, even if I am working, if I need to step back there’s that.

Being on DSP and my own timetable means I can also torture myself by watching Senate estimates, such as the session last week with DEWR Secretary Natalie James and Minister Murray Watt.

Don’t know Ms James? Well there’s a helpful puff piece in The Mandarin today (out of paywall), hoping top humanise her after the session.

What I got from the session was that the department is not confident that people aren’t being suspended due to errors with their system. What they have done is stopped cancellations at this point, more due to the recent discovery that their guidelines say they’re not meant to cut off anyone who doesn’t have any money saved (which is basically everyone) – but that doesn’t mean they can’t just keep suspending people, which is effectively the same since you have no money if you’re not getting your welfare payment.

So the department doesn’t know if they’re cutting people off incorrectly (let alone illegally) and they seem to be happy to continue with enforcing mutual obligations. They’re happy with how it’s going, and seem more concerned about “provider viability” than whether people are being left without any money to feed and house themselves, about whether they’re putting people in danger of suicide or other misadventure.

They also don’t know how the 10, mostly Indigenous, people who died after being cut off due to a “bug” did die. And when pressed they stated that since the families didn’t contact Services Australia to inform them of a suicide or other cause of death they don’t know and haven’t investigated.

And that’s just those ten. We know others who are still owed money from being cut off incorrectly or illegally who haven’t received repayment, so there’s likely more out there who aren’t doing so well.

It’s a mess. And that’s without even getting to the well known issues people have with their providers cutting them off because they weren’t marked present for a meeting, or demanding people complete phone meetings in a cyclone when mutual obligations have been stopped in preparation for a disaster.

A screenshot from an email by 'Help' a Disability Employment Service owned by IntoWork says the following: "As you may be aware, Cyclone Alfred has intensified to a Category 2 system and is expected to make landfall between Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast later this week. As the safety of our staff, customers, clients, and participants is our top priority all Help Employment offices will be closed on Thursday, 6 March, and Friday, 7 March. What does this mean for you? Employment Services: Our offices will be closed, but telephone appointments will continue as normal. Face-to-Face Appointments: Any scheduled in-person appointments will be rescheduled or changed to phone appointments. Your consultant will be in touch with further details. Please follow local emergency services' advice and stay safe during this time."

(I’m also concerned for the staff who are presumably at home preparing themselves and being made to make unnecessary phone calls to people)

I haven’t heard if the pause has even gone through to people on the Workforce Australia app or by SMS, but wouldn’t be surprised if people are notified after the fact like during the rolling pause at the start of the year.

So yeah, a sorta apology (“I absolutely and unreservedly apologise on behalf of the department that we cannot have full confidence in this system delivering what it’s intended to deliver”) for a known error but keeping the system that is still possibly illegally cutting people off their tiny subsistence payments while you get it looked into isn’t going to cut it anymore. You can’t just say sorry for a known error that’s killed people, and have related errors still under investigations and needing to be paid back (let alone compensated) and still say you trust in the system and are happy to have it doing this because you aren’t turning your mind to it.

Suspend mutual obligations now, while you get your house in order. But why would you when nothing but promotions and excuses came from Robodebt.

And that’s before we actually talk about how much harm, rather than the expected help, is caused by “providers”.

(Preferably get rid of them altogether and create a voluntary, effective, public job-getting support service that people actually WANT to engage with)

But my updated GTA has downloaded and I’m gonna go cause some chaos.

picture of someone in a hello kitty costume drinking bubble tea in front of a burning house.

Sure, I’ll answer some questions!

A journalism student sent me an email and asked me some great questions about welfare in this country. Since I got right into the answers, I though I’d share them here.
 
 
Firstly, one of the statements of yours that I found most interesting was a post you made on X regarding the federal government prioritizing quelling inflation and maintaining a surplus over raising welfare to a liveable standard. Do you believe that the Australian government prioritizes the aesthetics of certain macro-economic factors such as the lowering of inflationary statistics over adequately providing support for government assistance recipients? If so, what message does this send to those utilizing welfare payments?
 
The government and opposition both definitely prioritise the look of the main inflation rates, of interest rates, or employment and unemployment numbers over supporting those who are doing the heavy lifting on those numbers being what they are – the pensioners and other welfare recipients, along with minimum wage workers whose incomes cut them off welfare before they meet the poverty line let alone the cost of living in this country. The narrative of the dole bludger persists and is reinforced by the government. In the workforce Australia inquiry last year Julian Hill used that term when questioning witnesses, despite protesting that Labor were in favour of stopping that narrative
 
 
 
 
Additionally, do you believe that the current disability support pension, as well as the bi-yearly rate update system, are adequate in facing consistent cost of living pressures?
 
The bi-yearly update is fine, 3 monthly would catch us up faster though. As it is the fact that the indexation is only as a percentage of the person’s current payment mean the lower payments increase less even though they are further behind laready. The 12 monthly for youth payments is completely inadequate and yes another reason along with those payments being severely inadequate that youth payment rates for welfare need to be eliminated. The disability pension while above the rate of JobSeeker is not adequate to support a person with long term illness and disability, with estimates of a disabled person needing at least 50% extra disposable income than average to meet the extra costs that come with it. Also, any fiddling with the amount of hours disabled people and people on the aged pension or carers can work is meaningless to most on those payments as being disabled or a carer is a full time job already, and aged pensioners should be able to retire in peace, and use any extra energy for the things they enjoy, and often contribute unpaid to their families and communities through care and volunteering already.
 
 
 
And finally, how do you think failures in support impact government assistance recipients in times of economic stress such as this?
 
People are suicidal, to be blunt. Welfare recipients end their own lives at a much higher rate than those not trying to survive on these payments. The injection of cash during the Covid shutdowns that brought JobSeeker to the poverty line was a welcome relief, along with the suspension of harmful mutual obligations, that led to less suicides by people on welfare payments than outside that time. The informal and formal supports that others who are working and able to give money, time, share their resources with their neighbours is cut down when everyone else is cutting back on spending in order to survive themselves during rapid rent and mortgage rises and costs of essentials like food and energy leaving people struggling. It is offensive to see governments giving more money to increase the resources of food banks and other support that should be on the pointy end – money for overheads like huge warehouses or trucks to shuttle donated food around, staffed by volunteers and work for the dole who can’t afford to shop at supermarkets either, while these organisations solicit donations from people at the checkout and corporate donors and everyone gets a feel good photo. Politicians should be ashamed to expand these while not addressing the inadequacy of welfare payments.
 
I think I got carried away. You’re welcome.
 
Fiona
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