When Linda Hannah's grandson turned 8, his father was moved from the parenting payment to the Newstart Allowance - an $85 per week decrease in his weekly income.
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But that wasn't the only stress weighing on the Invermay single dad.
He was still paying off thousands of dollars of Robodebt to Centrelink who gave no explanation about the source of the debt, and when he received a lump sum for the family tax benefit, Centrelink instantly took it back.
He endured several weeks of no income at all when he was moved onto Newstart despite informing Centrelink well in advance.
Ms Hannah, of Greens Beach, used her savings to help the family cope with their increasing rent, bills and other living expenses on the $300 per week payment, but she realised such a little amount was unsustainable.
"Who chooses to live on that little amount? You just can't live on it, you wouldn't choose to," she said.
"He was relying on that money to pay his gas bill, his rego, to buy his son a birthday present. Then it was just gone.
"It just appalls me how cold-hearted they are. They don't realise these are actual human beings that have to live, that need to buy food and pay bills."
Ms Hannah had signed countless change.org petitions, so she decided to start one herself to have Newstart raised by $75 per week for single mothers and fathers.
It has gained more than 52,000 signatures.
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"I was excited when it got to 100, then to 1000, and I thought 10,000 would be nice. I'd love to get to 75,000," she said.
"People are just grateful that others are speaking up for them."
Ms Hannah will now travel to Canberra for parliament's next sitting week in early September to deliver her petition, but there was one catch - the parliament does not accept change.org petitions.
Not to be deterred, Ms Hannah will use the petition to lobby as many politicians as possible to back the cause and already has Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie and Member for Clark Andrew Wilkie in support.
Even if it does not make it inside the walls of parliament, Ms Hannah hopes it can raise more awareness and keep Newstart at the front of mind for MPs.
Unemployed have it tougher now than ever
Ms Hannah was on Newstart herself in the 1990s and was able to attend TAFE for free, the precursor to her career in accountancy.
It was when the payment was enough to keep on top of living expenses, but she said it was far tougher now for the unemployed.
"They don't do anything like that now," she said.
"I had a friend who works for Vinnies, she tells me the amount of people coming in needing food and help is just getting ridiculous.
"I just think it's so unfair."
The Senate is taking submissions for another inquiry into the level of Newstart, but the government remains steadfast in its opposition to increasing the payment.
Member for Bass Bridget Archer has also avoided calling for an increase to Newstart, believing it was just one of a range of issues that needed to be considered to help the unemployed.
Ms Hannah said it was all moving far too slowly.
"That's not even going to close until March 2020. It's another six-to-seven months that people are having to struggle by when someone could make the decision now," she said.
"It doesn't need to be reviewed, it needs to be raised."
Linda Hannah's petition can be found here.