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A complete stuff up.

Debt amount: 
$1234
Period debt occurred: 
July 2010 to September 2010
Has your case been referred to a collection agency?: 
No
Payment Type: 
Sickness Benefit
Appealing Debt?: 
Yes in process
Tell us about your debt and how has this affected you? e.g. anxiety levels, financial and accommodation stress: 

Has created anxiety and stress as income was reported correctly at the time. Have had contact with Centrelink many times in the last 2 months and still not resolved after supporting documents were supplied and a review being asked for. Am currently on Newstart and having to repay debt out of fortnightly payments until matter resolved. Am renting and the small amount being repaid fortnightly reduces money I am receiving.

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

A complete stuff up. I was told by one Centrelink staff member that my total income for the whole year was averaged so does not give the correct picture as I was on Sickness benefits for only a couple of months and worked the rest of the year. This gives an inaccurate calculation of my income for that period when on benefits. Ridiculous that they have gone back 6 years when any discrepancy should have come to light in that income year and in fact I had to repay a debt of $430 for overpayments at the time.