Learn from the mistakes of others

who'd have thought that a day could be so looong and unproductive?

but then, i did have to go visit centrelink. only twice.

had to sort out an appointment so i could apply for a different 'benefit' now that i'll be studying full time. (this was after i filled out all the relevant forms, of course.)

so, done that. also had to cancel another appointment the their lovely computer generously generated for me - was being expected to go in to discuss what extra things i'd have to do to 'find' a job, on pain of being cut off the 'benefit' i'm already barely living on. discovered i could only reschedule it. did that.

[this scheme being the infamous 'work for the dole', where unemployed people get to do meanial labouring work for an extra $20/fn, while the 'employers' get paid a substantial bonus. our conservative government calls this kind of thing a 'mutual obligation' activity. menaing that we are obliged to do more for the same thing, or they'll cut us off our 'benefit'.]

then i get told that the appointment is unneccessary since i've just moved. (at this point i just went huh? and let it go.) in any event, the whole thing was moot to begin with since i'll be working too much, and earning too much, to be 'eligible' (aka required) to 'participate' in the whole damn thing anyway. oh, and as a full-time student i should be on this other benefit anyway (already knew that - had application in hand ...)

so get to second round with centrelink. no problems. do i have my citizenship certificate with me. no. no? (seems silly me should carry it all the time ... [if i was born in australia i wouldn't be asked, but inconveniently i was born elsewhere.]) anyway, appintment was just to photocopy reams of id (that somehow was not as acceptable as some bit of typed-on paper, even with three forms of photo id.) no, i have to provide my cit. cert. to prove who i am. [despite already being on the system, and already having done this several times before.]

then i get told that it will take 21 days to process. yippie. and in the meantime i'll be on the current 'benefit'. which will be cancelled if i'm earning too much for too long. which i probably will be.

g'damn.

the best part of all this? i helped the poor centrelink droid navigate the computer system.

now, i've only seen the crappy screens they get to work with, and not while anyone's actually operating them, but i've still been able to work the system out. probably why i've never been invited ot work there. over qualified.

anyway, that was most of this afternoon.

at least there's csi miami to watch tonight.