@noticingclimate.bsky.social
Links to the ... wow ... redoubtable Asher Wolf looking at another Services Australia failure around Centrelink debts.

Benefit recipients are being treated so badly.
The Targeted Compliance Framework has corrupted the system and twisted the purposes of welfare payments into being a tool to oppress and demonise benefit recipients.

What you reckon Anthony Albanese?
Time to end this dog act?

#Centrelink #TFC
#AsherWolf #ServicesAustralia

Medicare

You cannot update your details online as COMPUTER SAYS NO!

But, thankfully, you've just become officially homeless at myGov and this is why you have a myGov account.

Before calling Medicare, make sure you link Medicare to your myGov account.

When you do call Medicare, remember that the staff member you speak to is also dealing with an IT system which is telling them NO, NO, NO, NO and this person is going to need some convincing.

So, weaponise yourself with your linked myGov account and the flummoxed Medicare employee will now be able to change your address to No Fixed Address.

#EatingMyRent
#Homelessness
#Medicare
#ServicesAustralia

26/34

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/phone-us?context=64107

Services Australia/myGov (cont.)

When you finally get through to Services Australia, don’t take out your frustrations on the poor hapless employee who is underpaid, undertrained, overworked and is probably abused all day every day. My favourite icebreaker is 'I may be homeless but, hey, I'm not YOU!' That always gets a laugh and next-level, bend over backwards, assistance.

Do not lie to Services Australia. Be brutally honest about your circumstances.

The staff member that takes your call may have to put you on hold to receive advice from their line manager or some other staff member. Advise them of your PO box address but that your residential address needs to be No Fixed Address. They can change it on the system.

While you are chatting to them, open up the conversation about your ‘obligations’. Frame this as a concern about fulfilling them and not as you laying down the gauntlet about how Kafkaesque they are. Ask if there is anything you should be doing. Remember, the employee isn’t the politician who wants to win votes by punishing you.

If you are a Jobseeker, it is important to know that you cannot move to an area with a higher unemployment rate even if you are homeless and it means you being housed!

But, wait for it, you can travel around Australia looking for work. Services Australia has no objection to that. You do not need to remain in the area you were housed. This is valuable information to know as it's impossible to find good camps within capital cities and stealth sleeping in a car is especially challenging with animals.

However, you need to have this conversation with Services Australia and not rely on the ramblings of some random chick on the internet. And, you need to advise them that you are taking their advice about travelling Australia to look for work.

#EatingMyRent
#Homelessness
#Centrelink
#ServicesAustralia

25/34

https://my.gov.au/en/services/living-arrangements/finding-renting-and-buying-a-home/help-with-homelessness/financial-help-if-you-re-homeless

Services Australia/myGov

Please give yourself time to decompress and engage in some weapons-grade self-care before you contact Services Australia. It’s going to be a stressful phone call. Allow plenty of time, if not days, to do this as it is highly unlikely you will get through the first time. You will most likely be on hold for around an hour. Thankfully, Services Australia clients have a two-week window to change their circumstances.

It's been a long time since I signed up to myGov but I am assuming the wait time could be similar. You’ll need a myGov account as it is your gateway to becoming officially homeless (and you may qualify for additional assistance).

You will have to telephone to sort this out as COMPUTER SAYS NO! Before you dial, get your kumbayas out, have a lovely cuppa, empty your bladder, and find somewhere private (as you’ll be discussing confidential information).

myGov helpdesk: 132 307 and select option 1 (M-F 0700-2200, Sa-Su 1000-1700)

#EatingMyRent
#Homelessness
#Centrelink
#ServicesAustralia

24/34

Services Australia (select the appropriate option): https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/phone-us?context=64107