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On the CV19 aid ...

The assets test is suspended for benifits.

Any past experience with centrelink ... is irrelevant.

I just checked on the terms for the aid.

If you need help .... Apply.

If your business is gone or in suspended animation .... or bankrupt ask for help.

Apply.

Go online ...

Whilst I do not take any joy in the current CV19 ... the response here in Australia has been decent as one could expect across all levels top to bottom,

DO not despair ... it may be hard in times of shock. Just apply ... if you need help ... get it ... govt clearly is not Fckin about in its offers. Whilst it may NOT save your business and that sadly is part of CV19 and the likely post CV19 landscape that maybe some things will be done differently. Business will not spring back magically. Not like say Trump is touting.

Sadly and looking at Singapore and various other second wave events, hopefully, Australia can get really on top of CV19 and possibly fluke its near eradication. Near being the operative word.

If your in travel or person to person contact, even a restaurant, times change and what used to seat 150 likely is 50 ... rents must change accordingly as will staff and many other things.

All I would say is ask for help ... financial is via centrelink . Medical and if there are mental issues, which is understandable when your life appears to vanish, doctor and speak to someone. Having had close friends do the unthinkable, one wish I had is that they asked. Even their closest were not aware of the battle they were waging. There is no shame in asking for help whether it be financial or other especially at times like this.

None and if any suggest there is, well ... F them. Job keeper may be better than the unemployment benifits ... at $200- more a week. Both for you and your staff, even if your not sure whether you come back. Rent assistance I note is also on top of the govt offer. Added is being able to take 10k out of super this year and another 10k post 1st July 2020.

There is even at the worst of times hope. Not delusional stuff like Trump sending an untested USA back to work, but meat and potatoes stuff ... its not going to make most whole again financially and for some, maybe they go broke. It is no big deal, having helped others on that journey, its needed at times to wipe the slate clean and start again. At times like this, exceptional ones, negotiation works rather than bankruptcy. Explaining to creditors where you are, bust ... if thats the case ... and getting them to release you. You release say the other side, if your renting ... some may not do this, which is fine but in writing and show your trying. It makes if needed the bankruptcy petition easier at federal court. banks same thing, they will try to get their money back, but when presented with a person of limited means and assets near zero, negotiate and state clearly and honestly your situation.

Do not let them or others bleed you dry. A debt you cant service and have no hope of paying off, you set it out, what you can do, what you cant do, what your prepared to do if possible. Taking a 2 year bankruptcy to wipe it all clear is preferable to having a bank credit card debt accruing at 20% or similar from others under default rates of the loans.

Financial counselor if you need it, centrelink has the people but suspect they are swamped.

Hence my own advice, on what to do, clarify your position and find out what the creditors views and expectations are. If they are no good, go into writing and keep records as it may be a surprise in Federal court that you have pleaded and been open and reasonable to creditors, totally honest .... I cannot stress how important that is, if your not, well ... the book will be thrown at you, but possibly and likely the Bankruptcy court will be swamped in coming months, but if you have been willing and honest and trying the length of bankruptcy could be altered a lot lower.

Unknown ... but Hope is there.

Ask for help ... financial ... medical ... mental ... it is after all only money.

Be kind to yourself and others. Hard to do in times of stress. Its often not your fault. Fault and blame not worthy of your time and mind. Harder to do of course when your mind is going 100 miles an hour. It will pass.