How Centrelink makes life for someone with a chronic condition impossible
In todays’ post, Robert Buckmaster draws on his own experience to explore how Australia’s welfare system pushes people with disability and chronic illness into situations that can exacerbate their health problems, for no clear purpose. Robert is an underemployed aspiring writer with the chronic condition Fibromyalgia. He is passionate about improving the welfare system, COVID mitigations and climate change action. You can read more of Robert’s work on his blog Poverty 101: A Beginner’s Course here.
My life started falling apart - again - when my medical exemption with Centrelink expired and I was returned to the Disability Employment Services (DES) system. I was another hamster running inside a spinning wheel, completing a cycle of meaningless activities. I have a chronic condition which is exacerbated by stress. Years of engagement with DES had achieved very little; nothing in fact. They certainly didn't lead to my finding work. Any casual jobs I found were in spite of the system, not because of it. I felt exhausted knowing I would be running inside the wheel again.
Perhaps this was for my own good? But if so, why did I end up finding suitable work during my exemption? It felt easier to deal with Jobs Victoria, a separate organisation unaffiliated with Centrelink that didn't threaten me with income suspensions. It only took them two months to turn up work for me. Years of Disability Employment Services just gave me anxiety.
When the compliance requirements in "mutual obligations" were lifted in 2020, I found myself able to work more hours and plan for my future. But when the mutual obligations returned, I felt overwhelmed again.
The irony is the activities at Disability Employment Services are unnecessary. I already have a Jobs Victoria advocate and someone at my workplace who can help me find employment.
No, the activities were worse than useless. Suddenly, I found myself prone to panic attacks and suicidal ideation. Surely, I should be able to get a reprieve?
Apparently not. Centrelink had told me any further medical certificates I sent them would be rejected after my assessment.
It gets worse. Though I already had a job, no thanks to the Job Providers, I was finding it harder to hold it down as my mental health went from bad to worse. I could barely concentrate during my work. Moreover, the stress interacts with my condition. Even as I write, I feel an awful pain in my body, particularly in my shoulders and neck, as a result of a flare up. This can be directly attributed to my appointments and is not conducive to my being able to work more.
I have to choose between my mental health and my JobSeeker payment, which I need for security. This is the impossible situation I find myself in.
I called up Centrelink and requested to speak to a social worker. A panic attack had caused me to finish work early. (What was the point of these activities if they cause me to be able to work less?)
The social worker was concerned. She could only give me a four week exemption and suggested I apply for the Disability Support Pension. (I have described elsewhere why I think this is an impossible process).
These appointments had triggered a crisis. Given the harsh reaction I have to them, this is not a sustainable arrangement. Should I have more panic attacks? More suicidal ideation? Lose my job if I am mentally unfit to sustain it?
Centrelink apparently gives me no way out - I can lose my mind or lose my payment.
When my current exemption expires, I'll be another hamster spinning the wheel - but to what purpose?
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