stressed out by centrelink

[Rach28]

hi everyone. thanks for reading this post it means alot. 

so.. im writing this post because currently on a exemption to not have to seek work/ study as im currently on centrelink jobseeker payment. ive been on this payment for the past 5+ years honestly. i checked my MyGov profile account like i normally do to report/check for updates etc. Next week i have a super random phone appointment with a services australia office to 'help me'. they suggested that i could volunteer at a local disability employment services office. that sounds awful and i am not doing that! 

i just dont understand why they are bothering me during my exemption due to anxiety/depression. i just want to be left in peace to seek support from my psychologists and figure out what im going to do next in my time. Is anyone else struggling with centrelink not leaving you alone when your struggling with your mental health. right now my depression is quite high and my anxiety is severe. if you read my other posts you'll understand the circumstances that have caused this decline. 

i just want to scream right now. i feel like everything is out of my control and i just want a moment to breathe. i want a moment to figure out what i want without others telling me what to do. 

i'm sick of these appointments, phone calls, reporting. i'm sick of it and just want peace and quiet. 

is anyone else struggling with centrelink long term being unemployed. id love to hear from you so that i dont feel so alone right now in this awful feeling. 

thanks for reading x

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Rach,

Tony has absolutely nailed how Centre Link works…

I was also on an exemption for Centrelink from my Dr and physiologist, but still had to present myself every 2 weeks to my job provider….after a while I was asked to find some volunteer work for so many hours a week if I wanted my benefits to continue, which I did….I found volunteer work with a well known charity shop….

I think Centrelink getting you a volunteer job with a local disability employment service is good…why?  Because a disability employment service would be understanding of your mental health…The volunteer job I found was working with people who didn’t understand the mental anguish I went through each time I went to the shop…they were regular people who didn’t understand depression, ptsd or anxiety and it was very difficult for me at first….8/9 years later, now on aged pension and not obligated to do volunteer work, I’m still there…because I made some nice friends, gets me out of my head on those days and I do enjoy the work..

Please Rach, give it a try with an open mind….as our amazing TonyWK has said….they have the power to remove your benefits and if they did, then you’ll have no choice but to find some type of employment for your survival…..

My kindest thoughts Dear Rach..

Grandy..