I was hit twice by the RoboDebt scheme.
The first year they stated I owed money from an employment role in 2008.
I was working as a Cadet getting Study Allowance alongside my Salary — Centrelink calculated that I earned $8000 in 8 weeks. What a laugh!
I am a single parent who could only dream of earning that kind of money.
They sent me a debt letter of $3600.
I have paid that despite the fact that I knew I did not owe it, I did not want the stress and anxiety — just working to make ends meet as it is.
Then I was hit with another $3600 debt.
Centrelink stated that I did not notify them of employment I had, when you can see that I did not recieve any money from Centrelink two weeks after my initial employment — this was 2012.
I had spent 1 and half years unemployed prior to this employment, they hit me in 2015-2016 with both these Debts.
Although I made payment arrangements and was paying off the second Debt, two years in a row, Centrelink reached in and took two years worth of Tax Returns.
I spent two years discussing this with Centrelink, with the onus on me to provide the evidence.
I contacted both employment places — both State Government roles only to have to wait 6 weeks to be provided the Payslips printout.
Sadly, I was left barely surviving from pay to pay and struggled to pay rent to my State Housing home charging me $415 a week rent (in accordance with my pay) whilst Centrelink were taking money from my measly Family Tax Benefit payment.
I was evicted and pushed into the private rental market in November 2016.
I felt depressed and suicidal but did not give up, I knew that I was not at fault.
I have paid back all of this money.
I want it back and what I could not pay off my HECS Debt due to not receiving multiple tax refunds — I do not trust the Government, ATO, Centrelink at all!
Unethical and pathetic theft of the people, they will try to take our Superannuation if they could.
Politicians do not understand the average persons daily struggle. They need a huge lesson in 'real empathy'.
Disgusting just about sums it up for me.
My children and I have been through poverty at a time when I working hard to lift us out of it by working and study.
Now, I just cannot trust those in POWER!