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False Youth Allowance/Newstart Debt

Debt amount: 
$3100
Date debt issued: 
Monday, 17 September 2018
Period debt occurred: 
July 2011 to June 2013
Has your case been referred to a collection agency?: 
No
Payment Type: 
Youth Allowance
Appealing Debt?: 
Yes in process
Tell us about your debt and how has this affected you? e.g. anxiety levels, financial and accommodation stress: 

Received a notification of approx $3100 debt caused by a discrepancy between my reported income and my PAYG statements provided by the ATO to Centrelink.

Caused due to the miscalculation of the computer system that averages out my income across the financial year when I only worked half of it, and was claiming the benefits I was entitled to for the other half.

This has caused significant anxiety and I am glad that I have kept records as otherwise I would be screwed and unable to fight this.

How do you feel about the way the Government has handled this process?: 

Very poorly as I provided proof of income and did not continue to claim once I was in full-time work.

Had it of been a requirement for me to continue to report my income for the entire financial year that I received benefits, I would have complied as I pride myself on following guidelines.