9 July 2022, Guardian Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes. Access the full article here.
Welfare recipients say they have been unable to log on to the new app to log job search efforts required to maintain their benefits
The Albanese government has extended a 30-day pause on welfare payment suspensions to thousands of jobseekers with disability who risked having their benefits stopped due to the trouble-plagued Workforce Australia rollout.
Five days after the launch of the successor to the much-maligned Jobactive scheme, welfare recipients have told Guardian Australia they are still having trouble logging into the application used to log job search efforts and complete other necessary mutual obligationsParticipation requirements welfare recipients must fulfil each month to continue... tasks.
More than 750,000 jobseekers are on the new Workforce Australia system – with its contentious “points-based” mutual obligations rules – but thousands more on the Disability Employment Services (DesDisability Employment Services is an employment services program targeted to dis...) program also need to use the same app to report their activities so their payments are not stopped.
We apologise for any inconvenience to users.
– Department of Employment and Workplace Relations spokesperson
Employment services survey
The Punishment for Profit report is based on hundreds of responses to surveys conducted by the Antipoverty Centre. This research is ongoing. If you are in Workforce Australia, Disability Employment Services or a similar program, we welcome any information you are able to share about your experiences.