Post by Banker on May 1, 2012 7:17:04 GMT 7
MORE than 1000 people get the dole without looking for work because they are home-schooling their children.
A further 3000 avoid their job-search requirements because they have large families with more than four children and are the principal carer.
New figures reveal nearly 70,000 welfare recipients at the end of last November had an official exemption that allowed them not to turn up to job agency interviews or other Centrelink requirements for mutual obligation.
More than 700 got out of their obligations because they were overseas but still received welfare.
Another 100 have suffered domestic violence and 4500 had a personal crisis or were homeless.
More than 2000 people were pregnant and expected to give birth within six weeks.
Out of the overall figure, only 5071 indigenous people were offered an exemption compared with 61,895 non-indigenous people.
A spokesman for the federal Employment Department said a range of exemptions from participation requirements recognised different family and personal situations recipients might face preventing them from participating in job search, work or study.
"Some of these exemptions are provided for specifically by legislation and others are assessed by the Department of Human Services on a case-by-case basis," he said. "For example, an exemption may be granted for recipients who have a temporary illness or incapacity or have a major personal crisis (such as domestic violence).
"In addition to generic exemptions, there are exemptions specifically for principal carer parents designed to balance family responsibilities with work participation requirements.
"These exemptions recognise some parents are involved in significant ongoing tasks over and above the normal tasks associated with parenting and other caring responsibilities," he said.
"An exemption exists for principal carer parent jobseekers who provide home schooling to one or more children or secondary pupil children for whom they are the principal carer. To qualify for such an exemption, principal carer parents must be a recognised home schooler, which includes adhering to relevant state and territory laws in order to provide home schooling".
The government said exemptions that apply to principal carer parents, including exemptions for people with disabled children, for foster carers and home educators, were introduced by the Howard government in 2006 as part of the Welfare to Work legislation.
National Welfare Rights Network president Maree O'Halloran said the ability to obtain a temporary exemption was vital as it offered respite. "Exemptions are especially important when a person or a family member is facing a serious illness or a major personal crisis."
www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/thousands-able-to-stay-on-dole/story-fn59niix-1226343122570
A further 3000 avoid their job-search requirements because they have large families with more than four children and are the principal carer.
New figures reveal nearly 70,000 welfare recipients at the end of last November had an official exemption that allowed them not to turn up to job agency interviews or other Centrelink requirements for mutual obligation.
More than 700 got out of their obligations because they were overseas but still received welfare.
Another 100 have suffered domestic violence and 4500 had a personal crisis or were homeless.
More than 2000 people were pregnant and expected to give birth within six weeks.
Out of the overall figure, only 5071 indigenous people were offered an exemption compared with 61,895 non-indigenous people.
A spokesman for the federal Employment Department said a range of exemptions from participation requirements recognised different family and personal situations recipients might face preventing them from participating in job search, work or study.
"Some of these exemptions are provided for specifically by legislation and others are assessed by the Department of Human Services on a case-by-case basis," he said. "For example, an exemption may be granted for recipients who have a temporary illness or incapacity or have a major personal crisis (such as domestic violence).
"In addition to generic exemptions, there are exemptions specifically for principal carer parents designed to balance family responsibilities with work participation requirements.
"These exemptions recognise some parents are involved in significant ongoing tasks over and above the normal tasks associated with parenting and other caring responsibilities," he said.
"An exemption exists for principal carer parent jobseekers who provide home schooling to one or more children or secondary pupil children for whom they are the principal carer. To qualify for such an exemption, principal carer parents must be a recognised home schooler, which includes adhering to relevant state and territory laws in order to provide home schooling".
The government said exemptions that apply to principal carer parents, including exemptions for people with disabled children, for foster carers and home educators, were introduced by the Howard government in 2006 as part of the Welfare to Work legislation.
National Welfare Rights Network president Maree O'Halloran said the ability to obtain a temporary exemption was vital as it offered respite. "Exemptions are especially important when a person or a family member is facing a serious illness or a major personal crisis."
www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/thousands-able-to-stay-on-dole/story-fn59niix-1226343122570