Equation of Survival

Armed with new information - Records from the hospital of my childhood diagnosis, and information from Service Australia to enable me to access the requirements for getting onto DSP, there is a decided renewed hope that I may be able to get onto NDIS and/or DSP.

However the equation of survival of the next six years of poverty remains essentially the same.

I am currently in the process of re-applying for NDIS armed with evidence of my childhood diagnosis, and by this weekend I will have accessed the WorkForce Australia website for information on the requirements for DSP and where I missed out previously with view towards hopefully being able to meet those requirements. One would hope the evidence of my childhood diagnosis will also be helpful towards gaining the necessary 20 points for DSP.

Should I still be unsuccessful in getting onto NDIS/DSP, it will be down to the loan company. My catastrophic loan repayment currently takes up about 30% of my JobSearch allowance, and given they assess my work capability to be pretty well zero, the only way to improve on my lot in life is to deal with this debt. Major issue is the loan is secured with my vehicle, so default on the loan means I lose my vehicle - my only means of getting to my dance sessions and other outings. Public transport is good during the day, but at night when these events happens, that is a different story.

It turns out in Australia all credit companies are obligated to consider hardship cases, the instances where our financial situation changes for the worse. The law however doesn't obligate the credit companies to grant hardship assistance, only that they seriously consider hardship cases, and they need to give a good reason for the refusal.

Basically I need a meaningful reduction on the fortnitely repayment. Even a modest reducation will immensely help my case. I current regularly left with no funds left over for savings, such as, towards new brakes for my vehicle, once all of the expenses - food, rent, petrol, dance sessions, internet/phone,..... and that cursed loan repayment are accounted for. There is very little scope for reducing these other expenses, I have already cut down to the bone every extra expenses, subscriptions, games, entertainment, etc. Only the good will of the loan company will save me if I am to remain on JobSearch for the next six years to Aged Pension.

December will mark three years of the loan repayment, leaving four years to go if my repayment remains at their present and currently unaffordable levels.

So first to approach the finance company for some hardship assistance, namely, a meaningful temporary reduction in the repayment, or re-negotiate the loan. Failing that, an appointment with a financial counsellor who would contact the finance company on my behalf will bolster my case for some assistance.

Failing that however........ and if my 2nd attempt for NDIS and DSP proves to be fruitless........ I will be left with no choice but to default on the loan. This will mean I will lose my vehicle, however, I will have access to 30% of my payment. It will probably take me a year to save my pennies for another vehicle, and it won't be anywhere near the standard of my current vehicle. So a year of no dance sessions nor other nightime outings. I would need to get my bicycle serviced that will help me get around locally, maybe convert to an electric bicycle given I am not spending any less time on this planet, so won't be totally without mobility. But for that year my life will be more difficult, maybe 30% richer but more difficult overall.