JobSeeker help. It’s approved with my medical certificate(Spinal surgery). I’m unable to work so also on Annual Leave. Tax question and a few more.

Firstly I had major spinal surgery in November 2024 and cannot work.

I have a medical certificate and Centrelink approved Jobseeker payment first report on 14th of January.

I have a job to go back to but can’t work due to my spine surgery on my neck.

I have been using Annual Leave to survive that I accumulated over the years.

I’m scared of paying tax return on my JobSeeker and need help with that too.

My Jobseeker payment is $778.00 + $8.80 and $6.80 for energy and pharmaceuticals fortnightly.

My first reporting period was Jan 5th to Jan 14th.

Problem here is I am not actually working but using my Annual leave so I have to report it as I am working. The other issue is I don’t get my payslip until the 15th so it’s hard to report accurately until I get that and I can’t write annual leave so I put it as work. I had to report it in the following period as I needed the payslip for the exact amount but my annual leave is Saturdays and I get roughly $600 a Fortnight from that. I rang Centrelink and they said this is correct as I needed the correct gross amount.

My first pay was only $270 or around that as it started from 5th Jan and got that on 16th Jan.

I’m confused because my current JobSeeker report for Jan 15th to Jan 28th, I did my payslip of $602 Gross payment before tax which was my Annual leave(I don’t know how to say it’s not me working but Annual Leave for work) and Thur 30th Jan I got $541.

I tried talking over the phone a couple of times to Centrelink help and they said I can’t report until I have the payslip so this is the correct way.

I assume the $541 pay is because I earned $602 from my Annual Leave and they reduce it a bit?

If this is the amount I think using my Annual leave is beneficial as I’m struggling health wise.

My other main concern is I didn’t understand the tax question when I applied. I actually want to be taxed because I heard I may have to pay take back if I don’t? I wanted it to just tax automatically but it suggested the amount of tax in $ or by %. I’m not sure what to do? I had to say no when I did the application because I wasn’t sure what we should be taxed if I’m getting Annual Leave as well.

I called for help but it’s hard to get answers over the phone and figured it’s easier to ask here.

Thanks in advance.