Go to top of page

2017 assesment done in 2019

Debt amount: 
$2200
Period debt occurred: 
June 2019
Has your case been referred to a collection agency?: 
No
Payment Type: 
Newstart 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: 

Once it became close to EOFY, Centrelink decided to me with a bill of $2200 bacause according to them I never reported my earnings properly. I was speaking to a lady on the phone for over a month give my gross amounts for the year 2017. I have verbally give all gross amounts from 2017 - 2019. The lady said that was all she needed to calculate my 2017 assessment. I was on a traineeship which I had told them at the start and I had two children in my care. In 2019 they automatically assumed I was on full time work and was incorrectly reporting my earnings wrong. When I contacted them in June, I had to supply all payslips from 2017 -2019 end of employment. Luckily they got emailed to me, as I went and slapped them on the table the next day. But in the end I am unable to apply for an advance due to debt there but has but put on hold for 6 months untill it's reassesed witch can take 6mths. I am due to moving house interstate and cannot receive an advance of any kind to pay bond, due this so called debt sitting there. Also I received a debit last year from. Tax of $350 due to I did not pay tax out of my (Centrelink) taxable income. I was not told of this and because lack of communication from human services department I miss out on a $2500 tax return. They need to advise working parents of this, also I am Aboriginal so I had no idea. But I love working, just wish they would Inform us of information we don't know and need to know. This put a massive financial burden over my shoulders do for last two years have been paying debts to Centrelink they accure out of now where with no explanation. Please explain.

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

Very poorly advise of accurring debts. Not much help unless you argue the point yourself, then in most cases get the phone hung up on you because your apparently being rude?? They need to understand struggling single parents that are doing the right thing by working and also acknowledge that us Aboriginal SP that are working may not know alot of information we should know and advise us of this stuff so we don't get caught out for our hard working money.