Heloo Rowland.

Yes, do pass it on if you think it sounds like a resonable complaint. I didn't know how to get the government to take note - let alone who to send such a complaint too. Thanks, [Name withheld].

[PS. Here's her letter, as she wrote it, without corrections to spelling etc. Rowland].

To whom it may concern, I write regarding an issue I have with Centerlink and it's current legislation on Pensioner Eduction Supplements. I have found, through talking to others on low incomes, that there are many in a similar situation to mine.

I started a coarse (which is Centerlink approved) on the 17th September 2004, and was eligible through Centerlink for an education supplement. However, when I became partnered in October of that same year I lost my eduction supplement. To add insult to injury and only after many many phone calls to various departments within Centerlink (including it's ombudsman), I was told that I would now be eligible for the JET program and/or the $1000 grant to help with my education, but only after the 11th of January 2005. So, I phoned back then, only to be told that because I did receive an education supplement when single, I no longer am eligible for anything now I am partnered. NOTHING.

If I had started my coarse AFTER I became partnered, I would be eligible for assistance, schemes.

I was not to know this. Should I have not become partnered? (Should I stay single and stay in the long sorry list of statistics of single parents and Australia's wondrous image of FAMILY - (It seems FAMILY is a luxury only for the rich now too eh!!) If I cancelled my coarse to become partnered then re-enrolled after I was partnered I would have been eligible, it was oddly explained to me by a sympathetic staff member at Centerlink. But this is ridiculas!! Not to mention the cancellation fees involved with the coarse, (would Centerlink pay those I wonder?), the black mark on my account with the school and the disruption in my study, even down to the risk of vacancies not being available next time.

I am concerned by the fact that such fortnightly payments as The Pensioner Education Supplement are not available to others or me simply because someone becomes partnered while studying. It suggests we should cancel our studying order to live with a partner, or recon ciliate to help children or make a marriage work. However it must result in penalties for those studying!! How is this fare!!

I am told it is Legislation and because I am now based on my partners income.

However, my partner is NOT supplemented for the cost of my education, and recently Centerlink told me that because he is on Newstart he is not entitled to any form of Centerlink supplement to pay for HIS further education.

As a single parent I was receiving fortnightly payments of up to $65 to help cover the costs of study. However when I became partnered every form of such assistance stopped, and now I am told I am not eligible for anything.

I believe this is unfair and is discrimination and also adds unnecessary pressure on families trying to make a go of things - i.e.; raise children in a two-parent household and try a train to find better employment opportunities.

I am also aware of situations where this has happened to other students who have become partnered while studying and how it has affected them negatively too. Centerlink's continued excuse is Legislation - Legislation, Legislation. Despite my living conditions changing from single to partnered, I am still studying. Infact, when I stopped receiving single parent pension and became partnered, my new income became less, based on my partners income - which is Newstart. His Newstart became less also. I had Austudy suggested to me, but it was worked out that while I was eligible for Austudy I would actually then receive less ($7) I was told, than what I would if I remained on the partnered parenting payment. When you become partnered these things happen; My FTB and Centerlink payments become less. My partner Newstart becomes less. Household doses not become cheaper to run when another adult moves in, infact the cost of bills and food goes up. Water, Gas and Electricity all go up in cost. In our case our government rent goes up also based on our incomes. I'm paying $130 a week approx ($262) a fortnight out of my payment with NO rent assistance. My partner is not eligible for rent assistance either, and after helping with the cost of our kids, his share of the bills and food -he has nothing to pay me for rent anyway, or for his own personal living expenses i.e.: travel to his study coarse, purchase of clothing for himself etc. Very little is left to cover my coarse.

I feel for those unemployed who are paying full-market rent and who are partnered and trying to further their education for employment. If I kicked the father of my children out then I could afford to live and study and one day go back to a job. I chose a Centerlink approved correspondence corse (of 3 -5 years study) because I have 3 children 5, 2 ½ and 1 year old, because I believe in the benefits of children having their parent (and both parents together) around them during early childhood, and also because I am a breast-feeding mother.

Regardless, my choice of study was approved and validated by Centerlink and originally eligible for education supplement - until I became partnered. This, I believe, is not a justifiable reason to withdraw my entitlements to any form of education assistance.

It is unfair Legislation.

To me it says, 'woman stay home - man work' - as I have met mostly females in this situation. Infact it is reflective of the role women are obligated to play in many cultures that Australia often compares its equal opportunity laws to. Arab cultures come to mind, where partnered women are expected to stay housekeepers and breed while the man works. Yet Australia/Centerlink I feel has treated me thus and spoiled a comfortable and affordable education for me. Wether it be at TAFE, University or by Correspondence - the fact remains the same- it's harder to afford study if you become partnered. (Ironically, if I stayed home and kept having babies for the rest of my life I'd get $3000 each according to the government, no questions asked and could study 3 coarse at least per year, full time. However, there are moral, ethical and social problems associated with this idea - Believe me, my sister is a social worker whose seen the results of money enticed pregnancies, and I am a Christian who will not participate in breeding lives for need or want of money. Between the two of us we've heard horror stories, if not very depressing tales.) These rules that effected my entitlement to an Education Supplement are old fashioned, and unreasonable. My sister worked a while in an inner city charity on intake and has heard similar stories to mine. One example was a young TAFE student, who was studying prior to becoming partnered. She'd lost her education supplement, her income had dropped, so had her partners, and she was now finding it very hard to afford to better her life.

My sister recalls the poor darling crying over the phone, saying things like "I've tried. I've tried. I really wanted to make things work, but I don't know why I tried anymore" My sister explained, "key indicators" of suicidal feelings when speaking to this young girl. Upon hearing this, I decided I am no longer going to cry and cry and cry myself - I am going to protest for myself and this young student and ALL families and couples trying to keep it together for love and for children, as well as try and educate themselves towards employment, a career and self-esteem.

WE WANT LEGISLATION CHANGED -(please). Things need to seriously be reviewed. I am hoping to collect comments and stories from others in my situation to present to those who govern the legislation behind Centerlink's rules. It is a rut that some of us ARE SERIOUSLY trying to get out of. Thank you for your time,

Kindest regards

[Name Withheld].