A South Australian high school student has been left "begging and borrowing from friends" after Centrelink cut off her payment just before Christmas, according to NXT Member for Mayo Rebecca Sharkey.
Ms Sharkey said her office had been inundated with pleas from people who had recently received letters from Centrelink looking to recover debt.
The Federal MP will today further investigate claims a 19-year-old female student, who is living independently, was cut off from her welfare payment.
"With no warning at all ... just before Christmas she didn't receive her payment from Centrelink and she relies very heavily on that naturally just to eat and pay rent," Ms Sharkey said.
"She was told she was one of more than 15,000 students who have lost their payments in a glitch."
The teenager plans to return to school this year.
Ms Sharkey said Centrelink directed the teen to a student services line but they could not help because schools were on summer holidays.