An extract from the lovely letter they gave me:
After careful consideration, a decision has been made that you are not eligible to be exempt from you mutual obligation requirements at this time.
This is because the medical evidence shows that your incapacity to work is not temporary.
Now, my brain is not what it used to be, but that second sentence is a beauty. I attempted to get them to pick it apart for me
Incapacity: physical or mental inability to do something or to manage one's affairs. That's OK, we can understand that bit
Temporary: lasting for only a limited period of time; not permanent So if something is not temporary, logic would dictate it is permanent.
Ergo, I am not eligible for an exemption because I am permanently damaged. Lovely.
My doctor, one of the most highly qualified GPs in the state (MB, BS, FRAGP) who also teaches at Melbourne Uni, suggests I can work 12 hours per week. Which I do. So, the implication is that she is either incompetent or dishonest. She will be thrilled. I dropped a copy of the correspondence of at the surgery. I can hear her ticking from here.
The outset is they now want me to:
Attend meetings with a disability support network who will, apparently, work with me to increase my hours of work by an extra 3 hours a week. Most weeks I do 15 hours, but there are occasions in the last couple of months where I haven't. The average has been about 13 hours a week. Most fortnights my Newstart payment is less than $20, but I need the safety net.
I need to find another job ( on top of the two I already have) because as a casual I can't control how many shifts I'm given. In essence, this is about me needing to earn another $70 dollars a week (at my current pay rate) or $42.20 if they find me a band 3 position at award rates or, if I am assessed as being say, 80% capable, I can be paid 80% of the base rate. That's $33.22 per week. Your tax dollars at work, ladies and gents. By the time I attend meetings I can see that being a huge saving to the general public, because I can not be allowed to lay back and bludge. Under any circumstances. Oh, and I also have to attend meetings with a social worker because--and I quote--'Being in your circumstances can lead to mental health issues like depression. We may be able to get you some assistance.'
It would be laughable were it not true.
