The redistribution of funds was never so complicated

It seems to me that the Australian Welfare Agency (Centrelink) has gone mad.

This is what happened:
- I applied for Youth Allowance.
- I gave them my TFN.
- They say that they're gonna use this TFN to do all sorts of stuff.

In addition to that, they want something to verify my previous year's income (which should have been lodged with the ATO) in addition to some payslips (which is fair enough).

However, they also want "proof of birth". What I want to know is why someone who doesn't exist want to work, study, and pay heaps of tax. Moreover, why would someone go to the trouble of working that much, and studying that much just to claim a measly few hundred dollars from Centrelink. They might as well just keep working.

On top of that they also want other documents to make that 100 point ID check. This doesn't include the birth certificate. Chances are that if you don't have a bank account, you're screwed in this department. Theres not too many students I know which have defence discharge papers, shooters licences, or security licences to make 70 points. Nor are students likely to have children's birth certificates, divorce papers, educational certificates (thats why they're studying), mortgage papers, a registration certificate from a professional board (another reason why they're studying), and also unlikely to have participated in any Australian Defence Force tours of duty, thus denying themselves access to a Veterans' Affairs Gold card (all worth 40 points).

They don't make it easy for people who don't have time to pop on by their local Centrelink customer service centre. For some reason, only original documents are acceptable. I'm certainly not going to mail my bank/credit card, Medicare card or driver's license to them. If I do, in the off chance that I find myself with measles on the weekend, its going to be a nightmare. Firstly, I get pulled over by cops on the way to the hospital/doctor without a license. Then when I walk the rest of the way to the doctor/hospital, I don't have a Medicare card so I don't get reimbursed the exorbitant amount they charge. Finally, to top it all off, I can't even pay that amount because I don't have any cash left in my wallet because I'm unable to withdraw any funds from the bank.

I'm delaying my application for Youth Allowance until semester starts again.