It's ok, I'm a student I don't need money!

Dear readers,

Before you get mad at this blog's title, continue to read on and see it's meant in a sarcastic way. I'm a 23 year old Australian university student. Who was just put onto Youth Allowance after being on New-Start Allowance during the last semester (2 units isn't full time in their eyes). Now let me make something very clear. I'm grateful I receive money from my government, I'm aware other countries don't have welfare. I'm NOT grateful to being made to feel like shit for asking for help though!

I work a casual job which truthfully I believe should pay more than it does. I report my earning to my government and because I earn more than $150pw before tax, my pay from Centrelink will decrease. If I'm lucky to earn $150pw before tax that is. I would like to lay some numbers out on the table for you. Simple numbers really, my expenses and then after that my income from my 'loving' government welfare.

Rent - $150pw

Car repayments $50pw - 2 years left at this rate, and I would have paid the car value back in interest plus principle (still trying to sell my car).

Public Transport $15pw

Petrol $30pw (I have to use it at night to get to work, and yes my car uses that much)

Mobile $10pw

Credit Card $25pw (chopped up, but damage already done)

Food...... Don't make me laugh

Centrelink deductions $10pw (where they believe I was in the wrong [I was claiming student income while looking for work, it took longer than 14 days to fix up so they gave me a fine]).

Now my income from Centrelink every fortnight is $480 including rent assistance, now minus my expenses and I'm left with -$100 a fortnight. Which is why I have to work a crappy job that pays me an amazing $17 an hour! Then at that job I get to get taxed 20% so I avoid a bill from ATO every July.

Now let me lay out some more numbers for you. This is what the pay rates for other people in Australia are - not including rent assistance, living away from home with no children 21 and over age group:

New-Start Allowance $497.00

Youth Allowance: $407.50

AUStudy Allowance $407.50

ABStudy Allowance: $497.00

Now correct me here if I'm wrong.... But my expenses have not changed from what they have basically always been. So why does my pay get a $89.50 cut and I'm trying to improve myself by studying....?

Also why does ABStudy get paid so much more? People on ABStudy are doing the same thing as me, improving themselves to go into a career so they will never have to use Centrelink again. Now I'm not discriminating, but I feel discriminated against.

But what I can't stand is being forced to go into Centrelink for the smallest things, while there waiting 2 hours to be seen. Let's not forget while I'm there I get free entertainment of the local drunks who love to use colourful language. But the real kicker here is the fact the free entertainment gets paid more than me! Now there is a 'loving' government system that looks after you! I have even asked a group at the bus stop, they openly joked about how they know they get paid more than me, but think it's great I'm trying to do full-time study "keep up the good work love". Yes I approached a group of tipsy people at the bus stop that I saw in Centrelink. I honestly wanted to know.

Now tell me how is my government supporting students? It's like they want people to remain on welfare and not study to get better job so they can GET OFF Centrelink. I'm aware this blog is poorly written, but look past the grammar mistakes and look at the real message behind it. Do you think it's fair? If not, help me and other students like me out there and talk about it! The more of a hot topic it becomes the more it's going to be harder to push under the rug. The more it's likely to change in the future!

To confirm on the Centrelink incomes I have talked about here is the link to the pages:
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/austudy
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/centrelink/youth-allowance/payment-rates
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/centrelink/newstart-allowance/payment-rates-for-newstart-allowance
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/centrelink/abstudy/payment-rates