I have worked generally full time since I was 16, now 45, after the old goat gave me an ultimatum, stay at school or move out.
His eviction notice gave me 4 weeks as I chose to start working full time.
Over this time, I had to rely on DSS, CES, Centrelink, ie, social security for around 2~3 years altogether.
The last was when we had our second daughter.
I chose to leave work shortly after bub got a high fever at 2 weeks old with 5 days hospitalisation with mum, and then a fortnight later or so, a phone call from the district nurse telling me that bub was failing to thrive.
Mum was being stubborn and trying to breast feed without following timing and other recommendations. I had to step in and get bottle feeding happening.
I didn't blame her as there was plenty of post natal depression because as we all know, breast is best...
she simply didn't want to admit defeat.
I was entitled to be able to receive Centrescrimp payments from a year ago, I didn't apply, for the reasons below.
@satanoperca has stated that men need to be men, and that thinking has been part of the ego from a young age.
In between jobs I would be a casual for removal companies (when younger), other times would find fallen trees on roadsides, block them up, split and sell as firewood.
Have done lawn mowing myself and helped a mate for free, who bought a lawn mowing franchise... he was single/ seperated, with 3 kids.
I cooked dinner for them on numerous occasions as I was single.
This all leads me to, the hoop jumping enforced by Centrelink, denigrates hard workers into depression.
If you are anything like me, and your forced by circumstances to lower your standards and try to apply for social security, the system just robs you of any shred of self dignity you had remaining.
Then you have some public servants, with chips on their shoulders, cancelling payments, incorrectly and purely out of retaliation.
I can remember hoping to get one of the normal staff on appointments so that things could proceed as expected....
I don't consider social security a right, despite legislation. It's a privilege.
The only silver spoons I have ever seen
@sptrawler are at weddings (not my own) and others houses.
I grew up in an area of class extremes. We were battlers, but I had some friends such as Grace Brothers heir and Ingham chicken heirs etc, and then others who lived in housing commission with their Nan or some other relative.
I am sore, tired, depressed.
F.Rock