70 AT THE TOP OF YOUR GAME Staying well in work; changing jobs If things aren’t going well, you might start to If you’re on Newstart and you get work, make Congratulations, you might be starting to feel wonder why you’re bothering with all the sure you keep reporting your earnings established in your job at this stage and getting stress and hassle and effort of work. If you’re because you’ll have working credits that used to your regular wage or salary. having second thoughts about the benefits of entitle you You may lose benefits if you’re on a payment work, we’ve included this list of pluses that can to keep some of your payment. You start off from Centrelink. If you work full-time, you’ll come from paid employment. with one thousand of these credits and they almost certainly receive no income support are reduced by every dollar you earn above Work can aid your wellness by: from the Australian Government. a certain threshold. increasing your income; If you work part-time, you might still qualify You can contact Centrelink for all the details increasing your self-confidence for a part payment. If you’re on the Disability or check out this website: www.centrelink. and self-esteem; Support Payment, this part payment can gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/publications/ be pretty generous. It might feel like you’re using your skills, talents and workingcredit.htm not getting much of a financial benefit from abilities to live a more independent working when your payments are cut. life; R. Pollard, of mental illness hidden’, Sydney Morning ‘Cost Social security is an essential part of the Herald, December 9, 2004, < increasing your skills and html>, viewed 1 October Australian social contract but we think abilities through training; 2010. you’ve got good reason to be proud that every giving you the chance to meet new people; Australian Government, Job Access, < Jobseekers/Getting_work/Why_work/Pages/home.aspx>,
70 AT THE TOP OF YOUR GAME Staying well in work; changing jobs Congratulations, you might be starting to feel established in your job at this stage and getting used to your regular wage or salary. You may lose benefits if you’re on a payment from Centrelink. If you work full-time, you’ll almost certainly receive no income support from the Australian Government. If you work part-time, you might still qualify for a part payment. If you’re on the Disability Support Payment, this part payment can be pretty generous. It might feel like you’re not getting much of a financial benefit from working when your payments are cut. Social security is an essential part of the Australian social contract but we think you’ve got good reason to be proud that every If things aren’t going well, you might start to wonder why you’re bothering with all the stress and hassle and effort of work. If you’re having second thoughts about the benefits of work, we’ve included this list of pluses that can come from paid employment. Work can aid your wellness by: increasing your income; increasing your self-confidence and self-esteem; using your skills, talents and abilities to live a more independent life; increasing your skills and abilities through training; giving you the chance to meet new people; If you’re on Newstart and you get work, make sure you keep reporting your earnings because you’ll have working credits that entitle you to keep some of your payment. You start off with one thousand of these credits and they are reduced by every dollar you earn above a certain threshold. You can contact Centrelink for all the details or check out this website: www.centrelink. gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/publications/ workingcredit.htm R. Pollard, ‘Cost of mental illness hidden’, Sydney Morning Herald, December 9, 2004, < html>, viewed 1 October 2010. Australian Government, Job Access, < Jobseekers/Getting_work/Why_work/Pages/home.aspx>,