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Post by Denis-NFA on Oct 1, 2013 0:09:06 GMT 7
Coalition bid to expand welfare quarantining PATRICIA KARVELAS THE AUSTRALIAN OCTOBER 01, 2013 12:00AM A WIDER cross-section of welfare recipients in more disadvantaged communities across Australia will be forced to use their payments on essentials such as food, rent and clothing under an Abbott government plan to expand income quarantining. Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews has ordered a fast-tracked "interim" evaluation of five existing welfare quarantining trials. The Coalition believes the scheme is too limited and needs better "triggers" to force people on to it. A spokesman confirmed the department had been asked to provide immediate advice on the trials in Shepparton (Victoria), Bankstown (NSW), Logan and Rockhampton (Queensland), and Playford (South Australia). The Coalition has declared the trial a failure that is too reliant on people agreeing to sign up and does not do enough to force parents who have failed to care for children into the scheme. Under the scheme, implemented by the previous Labor government, a person could be forced on to income management if they were referred by a state or territory child protection authority, a Centrelink social worker or, in cases where they had rental arrears greater than a month, a state housing authority. Volunteers have 50 per cent of their benefits quarantined to be spent on food, rent, clothing and other essentials using BasicsCards. Those forced into the scheme have 70 per cent of their benefits quarantined. It is understood the Abbott government will look at immediate improvements to the existing regime, as well as options for expansion into different areas and to cover more groups on welfare, particularly the long-term unemployed, and to make the triggers for participation in welfare quarantining more effective at getting people on to the scheme.It is understood a major expansion of income management could be funded in the budget next May. The Abbott government believes it can be rolled out cheaper than it was under Labor. The Gillard government allocated $117.5 million over five years in the 2011-12 federal budget to administer income management. Funding has also been used to cover the cost of the expansion of income management to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands and the Ngaanyatjarra lands. As of May 17, there were 423 people on income management in the five trial sites. The location with the largest number of people on income management is Shepparton, where the numbers have almost doubled since December last year, from 84 to 161. Of the 423, 391 have elected to participate in voluntary income management and 32 were placed on income management either after being assessed as vulnerable by a Centrelink social worker or after being referred by a child protection authority. The Australian National Audit Office year found the scheme cost between $6600 and $7900 a person to administer, equal to 62 per cent of the $246-a-week Newstart payment. Under the scheme, 50 to 70 per cent of a welfare recipient's income is managed by Centrelink through a Basics Card, which enables payment to a limited number of stores and service providers. The National Welfare Rights Network has voiced concerns about the scheme and the costs associated per capita. - See more at: www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coalition-bid-to-expand-welfare-quarantining/story-fn59niix-1226730353663#sthash.Fs9dBVzh.dpufI have 'bolded'.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2013 7:30:31 GMT 7
The whole scheme actually costs a fortune which instead should be used to increase Newstart so the unemployed might actually afford to buy the basics. Its all about punishing and humiliating the unemployed and treating them like children who are not responsible enough to handle their money. Governemnt and big business create unemployment by moving companies offshore to Asia for cheap labour but then blame the unemployed themselves for being out of work to deflect the blame. If people volunteer for it or they have a serious drug, alcohol or gambling problem then maybe its OK but l wonder if the plan is just to start to off with those people and then eventually extend it to everyone whose on Newstart or on it long term maybe even eventually to us on the DSP, l guess woolworths and Coles are happy about it as its the only place that they can use their basics card, wouldn't be surprised if theres something fishy going on between the liberals and the CEO of woolies and COles .
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Post by Banjo on Oct 1, 2013 8:09:47 GMT 7
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2013 8:15:29 GMT 7
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2013 8:20:23 GMT 7
Yes theres over 1.5 million people on the DSP and Newstart , if they are forced to spend half their income at only coles and woolies imagine all the extra millions they would make, 1.5 million captive customers, l wonder if the CEO's of coles and woolies are talking to the Liberals about the basics card. Why is it only Coles and woolies people can use their basics card at, that's what l would like to know
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Post by Banjo on Oct 1, 2013 8:39:07 GMT 7
What will happen is that people will be approached by those with a basics card who will offer to do their shopping for 80 cents, 70 cents, even 50 cents in the dollar. You go round the shop with them and pick out what you want and then the goods and money change hands outside.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2013 9:18:56 GMT 7
What will happen is that people will be approached by those with a basics card who will offer to do their shopping for 80 cents, 70 cents, even 50 cents in the dollar. You go round the shop with them and pick out what you want and then the goods and money change hands outside. Yes if someone wants to buy booze or cash for gambling they can give their basics card to a friend or relative or even a stranger to shop with in return for cash. Which shows the basics card a total waste of taxpayers money. Do people have to show photo ID with their basics card , otherwise anyone can use it.
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Post by aussieinusa on Oct 8, 2013 8:32:34 GMT 7
I'm absolutely in favour of something like this being available *voluntarily* to people who need it (under proper supervision from a CL social worker, mental health professional or whoever), but forcing it on everyone is a terrible idea. Firstly, BasicsCard is not accepted at Aldi, local markets, roadside produce stalls, little ethnic grocers, vegie box delivery services etc., which are all vital for many of us to eat reasonably well on very limited budgets. Being forced to shop at Woolworths or Coles would make me spend a lot more money on a lot less food. In the case of delivery services, these also get food to people who might not be able to get to the shops regularly, for whatever reason, at reasonable prices. (Can't say I was impressed with the cost of Woolies delivery service when I tried it a few years ago.) Secondly, people with special dietary needs can't get everything they need at Woolworths and Coles. I would bet that my 'luxury' gluten-free biscuits from the health-food store wouldn't be covered; or even GF lasagne sheets so I can make myself lasagne occasionally. Thirdly, it likely gives landlords a quick tip-off that you're on CL payments, when your rent money starts coming through there. I'm in a situation atm where I finally found somewhere stable to live, but they "don't want unemployed people" on their property, so I'm not sure I'll be able to stay. The more CL's media department build up prejudice against us with the relentless stories of bludgers and welfare fraud, the more people just want anyone on CL to disappear; classic Aussie NIMBYism again. Fourth, these schemes in the US mean people on Food Stamps often have to use a different line in the supermarket, as the other registers aren't set up to accept it. If that happens here, you've got one more way to tell everyone, "this person's on welfare! ostracise them now!" Plus longer lines etc., which is obviously fine since people on welfare have nothing better to do, right? (Joking.) Lastly, I don't see medical care anywhere on their list of 'essentials'. A lot of us DSPers spend a large portion of our money on things like over-the-counter medications, prescriptions, doctor's visits, transport to doctor's visits, etc. Do those come out of the 'quarantined' money? Or do we get to spend our 'fun money' on OTC meds now?? That's without getting into the question of whether we deserve to be treated like children. It's a persistent prejudice against PWD, that because we mightn't be able to do some of the basic self-care stuff that 'grown-ups' do, we're not adults and don't deserve to be treated as such, including having our decisions respected. Good on the government, backing up that prejudice by proposing they manage our money for us. But even if they leave us DSPers alone and 'just' go after long-term unemployed people... being unemployed is depressing. Putting in job applications, day after day, only to hear resounding silence peppered with the occasional 'no', is not a fun way to spend one's life. If a person is only able to get through month after month of rejections with a few beers at the pub with their mates, leave them be. So long as they're taking care of their main responsibilities (including feeding kids, if they have any), what they do the rest of the time is none of our business. It's not the best coping strategy ever -- I would seriously suggest going for a run instead, since endorphins are a better high than beer, by far -- but if that's what's getting people through, good on them for keeping going.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2013 8:52:26 GMT 7
Yes it should only be voluntary or people with really serious drug, alcohol gambling problems. But l'm sure theres plenty of polticans ,especially blue blood liberal types that consider all unemployed people should be placed on the basics card. l don't think they would go as far to extend it to people on the DSP but l guess its possible in the future some of us on the DSP could end up on newstart if they do mass re-assessments or something . A bit strange the polticans accusing the unemployed of wasteing taxpayers money and being irresponsible with it when you consider all the travel rorts and thing they get up to. www.news.com.au/national-news/tony-abbott-claimed-1300-in-expenses-to-attend-triathlon/story-fncynjr2-1226734481459
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Post by Banjo on Oct 8, 2013 9:12:44 GMT 7
Don't they have Peter Slipper facing charges for the same thing?
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Post by Borndead on Nov 17, 2013 0:37:41 GMT 7
Hi guys. ... im new around here, & i like everybody else on centrelink am worried that the expansion of Welfare Quarantining' will put an end to all cash payments to those on welfare. Thereby forcing welfare recipients to only use the basics card for the purchase of nothing but the bare necessity. & only then at such government approved shops & outlets. Thus putting an end to all travel outside Australia.
I have just started traveling & have been going overseas a few times so far in 2013, 6 weeks at a time, but feel that the Abbott governments Welfare Quarantining will force an end to my travels just as they were kicking off. As it will be hard to buy food & pay bills & rent overseas if we are forced onto the basics card as i doubt they will take the basics card in Asia / Europe.
No cash = no travel.
I doubt Jetstar or QANTAS will take the basics card.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2013 10:56:47 GMT 7
Hi guys. ... im new around here, & i like everybody else on centrelink am worried that the expansion of Welfare Quarantining' will put an end to all cash payments to those on welfare. Thereby forcing welfare recipients to only use the basics card for the purchase of nothing but the bare necessity. & only then at such government approved shops & outlets. Thus putting an end to all travel outside Australia. I have just started traveling & have been going overseas a few times so far in 2013, 6 weeks at a time, but feel that the Abbott governments Welfare Quarantining will force an end to my travels just as they were kicking off. As it will be hard to buy food & pay bills & rent overseas if we are forced onto the basics card as i doubt they will take the basics card in Asia / Europe. No cash = no travel. I doubt Jetstar or QANTAS will take the basics card. l think people on newstart should be worried, but l don't think they would make it compulsory for DSP's, because then what next old age pensioners, the government telling pensioners they cant buy a drink at the pub with their pension money is going too far, but the governemt can unfairly attack the unemployed as bludgers in the publics eye, they cant do that so easily with us DSP's. The bascics card can only be spent at coles and woollies so l bet the CEO's of those companies would want the government to extend the basics card
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Post by Borndead on Nov 17, 2013 19:29:17 GMT 7
Hi guys. ... im new around here, & i like everybody else on centrelink am worried that the expansion of Welfare Quarantining' will put an end to all cash payments to those on welfare. Thereby forcing welfare recipients to only use the basics card for the purchase of nothing but the bare necessity. & only then at such government approved shops & outlets. Thus putting an end to all travel outside Australia. I have just started traveling & have been going overseas a few times so far in 2013, 6 weeks at a time, but feel that the Abbott governments Welfare Quarantining will force an end to my travels just as they were kicking off. As it will be hard to buy food & pay bills & rent overseas if we are forced onto the basics card as i doubt they will take the basics card in Asia / Europe. No cash = no travel. I doubt Jetstar or QANTAS will take the basics card. l think people on newstart should be worried, but l don't think they would make it compulsory for DSP's, because then what next old age pensioners, Hi there Frugle, Um yhe i hope what your saying is true. But im not so sure that's the case. The LNP has said all welfare payments are to be reviewed & everything is fair-game. Also .. Over the weekend we learn't much more about the LNP's intentions. ( & they make their point very clear. ) Im on DSP by the way. ( incase your wondering ) November 17, 2013Federal Government has welfare rorts in sights as eligibility tightened www.theaustralian.com.au/news/federal-government-has-welfare-rorts-in-sights-as-eligibility-tightened/story-e6frg6n6-1226761822856
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Post by zingzingzing on Nov 17, 2013 19:54:31 GMT 7
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Post by mikey on Nov 18, 2013 8:54:47 GMT 7
There are 553 members of this board, yet 822,000 people on the DSP. I would be fair in saying, if your a member and a poster here, it's cause your feeling the pressure, yet a clear on your disability and your rights. Nobody actually decides on your DSP outcomes on this board, so honesty in the stress people feel and express, won't change their outcome, but hi-lights the fears we are all under. The stats quoted today on the ABC's World Today radio program, that the rate has dropped from 1 in 3 , down to 1 in 2 for DSP approvals. So, from my most basic statistical assumptions, it's getting harder, probably justly so. There are a lot of people who worked out how to game the system. A lot of people were shifted to DSP to hide/shift widows, etc before they received the pension to hide stats under Howard. (my mum saw her super halved after my dad died, so I understand her sudden financial stress being a housewife being a few years under 65 at the time) But the truth is, it is feeling more like search all houses on the block, to find the single fraudster. Can't imagine any mining company exec was suddenly manically depressed when the mining tax was introduced. Can imagine now lots of imported luxury cars being acquired now mining and fringe benefits tax is gone, will save Aussie jobs. The legitimate will feel persecuted, those gaming the system, will just find a new game.
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