JET Payments help please!

[Mummy1988]

I am a single mum, returning to full time study this week, and my DS will be in an approved child care centre 4 days a week.

I lodged my JET application 1 month ago, and I start uni this week and still haven't heard anything back from JET as to whether my application has been approved, so I called them up and they said 'oh no you have to fill out an Employment pathway Form first. Your application is on hold until the form is received" (grr so annoying no one told me about the form). So I went in today to fill it out, and I'm SO confused. Why is there so much information and questions on the form about 'seeking employment' and 'looking for work'???
Secondly, they told me that I have to register with an employment provider (as in a company that tries to help you find work) and have to attend an appointment with the company next week.

I don't understand!!!
I'm just a single mum to an 8 month old baby, returning to full time study, applying for JET payments to help me cover the costs of childcare while my DS is in daycare. I'm NOT looking for work!

I explained that to Centrelink today and they just said 'you have to attend the appointment, that's what the computer is telling me'. (???)

Has anyone here received JET payments, and did this happen to you?

It just doesn't sound right to me. Why do they want me to go to an employment agency??

Any help much appreciated thank you

[JabberJaw]

Because the job agency become your 'case worker' and make the calls to check if you are going to studies etc etc. As far as i know anyhow.

If you call the job agency, they usually do it over the phone if you tell them you are studying.

[Mrs Nietzsche]

Be *very* careful. Don't just sign the crap about agreeing to look for work. They should change the agreement to suit you. I actually just refused to sign it and still got JET (not recommending that though). If you are studying you don't need a case worker or anything, you just need to ring up and advise if you are continuing study every semester/ enrolment period/ etc.

Ask for a JET person to ring you. Those agreements just aren't designed with study in mind.

eta they take weeks to approve anyway

[OJandMe]

Oh no honey they are COMPLETELY stuffing you around.

Go into the office again, take in your enrollement confirmation and tell them you have applied for JET for study assistance and you need an employment pathway plan stating that. I can't believe they're mucking you around so much!

ON your employment pathway plan it should basically just say that you've promised to undertake (so many hours of study per fortnight) for (such a length of time).

Don't stress too much about the fees, they WILL back date it so you're covered from the start of uni, even if it doesn't get processed in time.

Get them to while you're there, put an AdDoc through to the JET team stating that you have completed your employment pathway plan and the details of that (how many hours, how long your enrollements for) Make sure that they give you enough hours to cover the length of time the centre is open on the days your child is there. Otherwise they'll only give you the hours you've said you were studying, and you'll have a gap to pay.

Ring the next day, and keep ringing back until you get someone who can help you and give you the info you need.

You SHOULD NOT need to join an employment agency.. someone has stuffed up... bring in your enrollment details again.

[Mummy1988]

Thank you!!!

I'm going to get on the phone to Centrelink first thing tomorrow morning. If they can't help me I'll go back to the Centrelink office near me and have the Employment Pathway Plan changed. I knew something wasn't right.

I was in the Centrelink office for 2hrs and 40 mins today, with my very overtired 8 month old. It was not an enjoyable experience.

Thanks so much for all of your help!!!

[Mrs Nietzsche]

You shouldn't need to go into Centrelink at all. If you explain your situation, they should be able to mail out an amended agreement and you can mail it back in.

It is unfortunately time consuming and you won't get it finalised before your study starts, but it *will* be backdated.

[OJandMe]

If you have access to a fax machine, ask when you're on the phone for a direct fax line to whoever it is you're talking to.. so that if they can, they can change the details on the computer by receiving your stuff through fax.

:hugs:

It totally sucks when people can't do their jobs properly. Just last year I had major issues with our local office changing the way I received letters (from print to online) and it resulted in my CCB being cancelled because of immunisation details not being updated... coz I didn't get the bloody letter!!!!

I put in a complaint to the Customer Relations Office about the incompetence of our local office, and the manager from the local office called me directly to apologise and give me the names of two people in the office who actually know what they're doing, so now when I go in, I just ask straight away to see James or Jenny.... and then at least I know I'll get stuff done right.

They have a very very high turn over of staff.... so mistakes are bound to happen... but like I said to the manager at our local office... "I understand that... but it's our lives that are getting mucked around because of staff errors"


However: I would go into the office... because sure it may take a couple of hours, but it's done then, and you don't have to worry about post times. I like to know exactly who I'm handing things to.

[murrythecat]

does JET apply to you if you study part time?

why is it.. that you have to find about this stuff word of mouth.. why don't they have one website with all the links.. they need a single mothers centerlink website or something!

[bubbleandme]

does JET apply to you if you study part time?

why is it.. that you have to find about this stuff word of mouth.. why don't they have one website with all the links.. they need a single mothers centerlink website or something!

lol tell me about it!

yes, JET applies if your study part time (generally)

http://www.deewr.gov.au/EarlyChildhood/Resources/Documents/FactSheets/Factsheet12.pdf

[supa_star323]

I applied a month ago and haven't heard back yet. I'm going in today to find out but I hope they don't try that crap with me.

[Mummy1988]

Well I've rung them up, and thankfully spoke to someone who knows what they're doing. She says I have to go back in to the Centrelink office and fill out a new Employment Pathway Form, and with the correct details of my intentions (studying, not job seeking) and I should have my appointment at the employment agency cancelled.

Thankfully my DS will be going to care (at $97 a day....) this morning so I can go in without him.

Hopefully they'll be able to process my application quickly, it's costing me $388 a week in childcare at the moment, plus I just paid a bond to the childcare company for $1552. We're going to have to be extra frugal this month :(

[sandy cheeks]

When you go to centrelink make sure you sit down and talk to someone and take in all paperwork that proves your a student and how many hrs your doing, you dont need to join an agency I didn't I had to sign a agreement saying this is what I'm doing:ecomcity: if I drop out ect then the JET stops(fair enough) but that's it.
It could still take 21 days after lodging in all paperwork the lady told me last week. I lodged my stuff 3weeks ago still yet to go through she also said JET was in demand so things were taking longer than normal.
I had to pay full cc but I will be in credit when it goes through as it gets backdated.
Why do you have to pay a "bond" to the childcare place? I have never heard of that how odd.

[bubbleandme]

i went to centrelink today, and my JET has been approved :smiliedance:

took about two weeks, but it won't start until the 2nd of March (when uni starts) but i means childcare goes from $50 a day, to $1.10! yay :D

:fingerscrossed: it happens soon for you!

may i ask, Mummy1988, why do you need to pay a bond for childcare?

[Emi]

hi all...

i was on JET last year for full time study... and am going on it again this year...

i did NOT have to sign a employment agreement at all.. but did have to sign a document stating that i was returning for studying.. for the duration of the course... etc.

i filled the forms out the ones for JET (and also the one for the pensioner educations supplement, which might be worth looking into for some of you... its additional moeny to help with things like school books etc...)
i then had to sit down with someone while they filled in all the paper work on the computer etc.. and just clarified my dates, times and centre etc.
(you also need you centre reference number and have them sign what days times your child will be in care... before you take your forms back...
then after all that they will send of the paper work... but it will not be put through until the stated start time on your forms... and then they will assess if you're alligable!!!

if your studying full time and your childs in four days a week and your on the parenting payments... i dont see why you wouldt be...

also dont forget to look into the education supplement for pensioners!!! it is worth it!!!

[mummyrissa]

Just something to think about for everyone using JET... You can only have it for 2 years of your course, I used it the first 2 years n only needed my dd in care 2 days now I'm at uni 5 days a week paying full fees. Wish I left it for the last 2 years!

[Emi]

Just something to think about for everyone using JET... You can only have it for 2 years of your course, I used it the first 2 years n only needed my dd in care 2 days now I'm at uni 5 days a week paying full fees. Wish I left it for the last 2 years!


i didnt know that!!!
i had JET last year for my course... but then stopped it as i finished that course... and have now started an new course... so have again applied for JET... hopefully i'll be able to get it both years for this new course... its only a two year course...

did they tell you that you only get it for two years? or did you only find out after the two years were up???

[supa_star323]

I didn't know you could only use it for two years. Ds will be in primary school by then so hopefully it won't affect me, but that's a bit rough.

[mummyrissa]

I was told it would be approved for 2 years but the impression they gave me was after the 2 years i could apply again for the last 2 years, as my course is 4 years full time!

When i called to have it started again they said i wasn't entitled to it unless i start a different activitiy (course, job etc). I told them i have no idea how i will afford the day care and i was basically told to get work instead of studying - ah no way im more then half way fools!

If anyone finds out anything different please let me know! I'am just very lucky my parents and my ex are in the financial position to help as what i am paying for day care is half of my pension!

[cheezelkat]

Make sure that you keep checking payments etc - I've been on JET for the past year and have had it cancelled 3 times randomly, leaving me with a fortune in CC fees.

[Emi]

mummyrissa- when you filled in your forms and put the start and finishing dates of your course and the times you'd need your child in care... was it the full four years of your course you put in???

if so... then havent they already approved it... therefore shouldnt they be covering you? they said they would and the dates stated say the full four years??