I do not have the pay slips for that time period anymore and my old boss is afraid she doesn't either

I had just lost a job a week before receiving centrelink's letter and promptly applied for Newstart to make sure i would be ok. Having lost work around the Christmas period once before, i knew from experience that it can be one of the most difficult times to find new employment.

I was shocked when i opened the letter, not only was i already in financial strife and pinching my pennies for the rough times to come i was now supposed to give away half of what i had in savings back to centrelink.

I'm a 32 year old single queer female with a mild form of epilepsy living alone in a one bedroom apartment that my parents own. I left school in year 10 and have always, aside from this last cruel year, have managed to support myself on below minimum wage incomes mostly in the hospitality industry and more importantly - paid taxes.
I don't live a fancy life and that's fine. The most important thing to me is my independence.

I do not like being on government support mostly because of how you get treated but after some unfortunate on going health problems i've had to swallow my pride for help. If i didn't have family, i would most likely be dead. I've called lifeline several times this year in my darkest moments and have even considered checking myself into a psych ward to keep myself safe.. only because i couldn't bare to break my parents heart. They're old Italian immigrants that have worked damn hard for what they've got including this apartment to save me from Sydney's increasing rental prices.
I am lucky to have a roof over my head but let me make it clear for those who may not be aware - living alone is expensive. Bills including gas, electricity, water, strata, council rates and internet on a below minimum wage doesn't see me taking overseas holidays very often.

Despite being made to wait over a month and a letter soon after saying that my claim had been rejected as i hadn't handed in all documents necessary - even though during that whole month i had taken many trips to Marrickville centrelink where they would say i had AND centrelinks website suggesting the same - eventually it came through.
I've enrolled for TAFE this year, being able to afford it now with a benefit discount bringing the price to $240 (the course i want to do is $6600 normally). I've been applying for more casual jobs in the meantime but hope to eventually change industry entirely for the sake of my health.

As for the debt?

I've managed to get an extension on it's due date but that's it. I do not have the pay slips for that time period anymore and my old boss is afraid she doesn't either. I was told without evidence proving the details of my week to week pay being different - as it often is as a casual worker, sometimes you make $350 other times $400 - then i wouldn't have a leg to stand on and that they would send debt collectors to my home.. i hope they like milk crates!