Living on Government Handouts

[den]

For the last 12 months I have been living on unemployment benefits. I applied for three jobs per fortnight for those 12 months and received some enquiries, and a few interviews. No jobs came of it.

When I enrolled for uni my bank account had $200 in it. I was eligable for Austudy, a government handout that gives you an income while you study.

My weekly income is now $150 per week. To live on that I had to move in with my parents. 40 years old and living with my parents.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever earn a decent wage.

Comments

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

NZ student loan is about the same, and less than the dole. It sucks. The lucky ones are the ones who can live at home. A lot of the unlucky ones end up living in squalid flats. :(

[ngarewyrd.livejournal.com]

*nods* how well I know That feeling Batty. I live for the day when I can tell Centrelink to shove it where the sun doesn't shine

[hopeforyou.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about your employment situation...Believe me, I know where you are coming from -- I've been out of work for a year myself, and on unemployment for about 8 months. I have applied for more jobs than you have, and even got a few offers -- only to have them rescinded later due to layoffs (aka redundancy) and budget cuts.

I don't have much of an income now...I mostly live on unemployment and loans from relatives and help from friends. It isn't optimal, but for sinboy and I to move in with either of our parents is next to impossible (our parents live in a different country and far away) and totally not desirable for a variety of reasons.

What kind of jobs are you looking for, out of curiosity -- and are you looking outside of Dubbo? Maybe someone else on my friends list could offer some suggestions if you want to relocate. Just a thought...

Hang in there, mate. Things will get better.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

I'm full time at Uni now. I got sick of losing jobs to kids. 20 years experience is beaten by 20 years of age. I nned a piece of paper that says I know what I know.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

That's exactly why I went back to school. It sucks.

[tatterdemalion.livejournal.com]

same here Batty dear, same here, what I know aint worth diddly squat unless I got the paper to back it up.

Hang In There

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

You're doing the right thing:). I know the feeling well. For the first time in terms of owing taxes they weren't more than I had in the bank this year. Only because I saved like a miser last year:P. A first fo me, and probbly the only time it will happen at this rate.Don't Give Up, it's what they *want * you to do.