Hello all, I'm new and would like some help

[straya]

I just wanted to start by saying that I have Asperger Syndrome aged 22 and despite my disability I would like to have a go at working and having a career. My mother is my carer and hasn't been working for a while because she had to care for me, she also has had no support from her parents, plus she doesn't have any friends so she's been raising me on her own all her life with no support from anyone. 

I'm scared to work however because neither me or my mother understand the "process" that goes on in Centerlink. My mother is under the impression that if I start working or studying I'll lose the DSP and be put on "newstart" which pays very little and mum will lose her carer's pension so we'll lose the money needed to pay the rent. I've tried looking on the Centerlink website myself and it's all very confusing and overwhelming.

I honestly don't know if I will cope in the work force, I don't want to risk getting a job, getting sacked and finding out that I can never again be on the DSP because I tried to get a life, but I don't want to keep sitting at home doing nothing and feeling like I'm worthless, I don't know what to do or how to get started or if I should give up and accept I'm disabled with no real future. We haven't gone up to Centerlink to ask them either because my mother is scared they'll start thinking I'm not disabled and kick us off our payments.


Will I lose the DSP if I start studying/working? And will my mother's carer's pension be affected also? If someone could explain to me the "process" I'd be very grateful

PS: I hope that all made sense, I'm not very good at writing stuff, thank you again

[krystal]

Welcome to the forum Straya.

Your best bet is to talk to someone at your local Community Legal Centre because Centrelink rules are full of if, buts and maybes.


Having said that this is how I understand it. (The following assumes that you do not have any of the "Under 35 DSP Participation Requirements").

For a start date for DSP after the 11 May 2005 you are only allowed to work/study under 15 hours a week.
guides.dss.gov.au/guide-social-security-law/3/6/1/12

If you stay under 15 hours a week rule, you stay within the criteria for "Continuing Inability to Work" rules and will have no effect on your DSP. (University courses assume that one unit per semester will require 12 hours of study a week for example).

You and/or your mum can organise any supports you need for study/work yourselves (most training institutions have a Disability Services Centre not aligned or responsible to Centrelink).

OR

Through Centrelink, they can offer a Disability Employment Service provider. 

If you decide you do want to study/work, you will be classed as "Voluntary" (again assuming you don't have any participation requirements).  As you will be voluntary, you can ring or visit different "Disability Employment Services" providers to see what work / study supports they offer and then just tell Centrelink the provider you've chosen.

Centrelink can supply a "Voluntary Disability Employment Services" provider but it's better to find one that suits you not Centrelink.

BUT

Centrelink might make you complete an Employment Services Assessment (Esat) or Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) to see what levels of support you require.

Any Esat or JCA might affect your DSP eligibility.



In my opinion it is better to approach a training institutions Disability Services and get them to help you with supports rather than asking Centrelink hoop jumping department.


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Your mother's carers allowance has a whole other set of criteria that has to do with the amount of care you need and not what payment Centrelink has you on (many people qualify for carer's allowance to care for people on Newstart).
www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/eligibility-carer-allowance

[Denis-NFA]

Apr 12, 2017 17:55:39 GMT 7 straya said:

I honestly don't know if I will cope in the work force, I don't want to risk getting a job, getting sacked and finding out that I can never again be on the DSP because I tried to get a life, but I don't want to keep sitting at home doing nothing and feeling like I'm worthless, I don't know what to do or how to get started or if I should give up and accept I'm disabled with no real future. We haven't gone up to Centerlink to ask them either because my mother is scared they'll start thinking I'm not disabled and kick us off our payments.


Will I lose the DSP if I start studying/working? And will my mother's carer's pension be affected also?

Welcome to the forum straya and good on you for exploring your possible options.

What krystal said above is very relevant for you, and your Mum. Keep asking questions about all of that.

I saw that you mentioned study and I thought of an American based organisation that offers many FREE courses in different subjects that you may like to check out and see if there is something that interests you.

The courses are self paced so you can take as long as you like to do them and it may be a good place for you to start so you can check for yourself how you feel without signing up for a job or a course of study at an Australian College.

The mob is called edX and you can find them on the internet at www.edx.org/

Hope this helps and all the best.
Denis

[Banjo]

Welcome to the forum.

My advice is always to do the best you can to get off the DSP and into the real world, especially to someone as young as you.

Sure, the worst case scenario is that Centrelink punishes you and your carer but at the moment you're looking at a life sentence of daytime TV and computer games.

[Deleted]

Yes l agree with Banjo l think at 22 you don't want to spend the next 40 or 50 years on the DSP unless you really have to and cannot work, a job can give you self confidence, a social life and more money then the DSP. You could first try unpaid volunteer work which will give you an idea of what its like to be in the work force and your work capacity without risking your DSP. Find out if you are capable of working enough hours to make working worth while finanacially , It will also give you experience and refreneces which would help you get a rea job .

[straya]

I just wanted to thank you all for the information and feedback, it's given me a lot to think about. From what I've read I think it's best that for now I try volunteer work to get my self confidence up as I do have low self-esteem. I'm currently moving to a better area than I currently live which has more resources and a better tafe so hopefully as long as I study there for 15 hours or less a week and find volunteer work it should open some doors for me.

I can't thank you enough for the support, it has given me hope

[Banjo]

Great, just do the best you are capable of, no one can ask more than that.