This debt amount is $300 MORE than I received from Centrelink

Debt amount:

$9069

Date debt issued:

Wednesday, 21 November 2018

Has your case been referred to a collection agency?:

Yes

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:

My parents handed me a letter in November 2018 they had received at their home that stated Centrelink had unsuccessfully tried to contact me at my own home address to have me re-report my income for a 12 month period from 4 years ago.
The letter stated I had not gotten back to them in time I had lost the chance to re-report and I now owed Centrelink $9069!

This debt amount is $300 MORE than I received from Centrelink Youth Allowance in the first place.

I am having no luck getting response or help from the Centrelink team and I am in constant panic and worry for my financial situation, its all I think about most days and it is hard to handle.

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

I feel the government has responded and conducted themselves poorly.
There aren't words to describe my disappointment in my government and the inability they have to ever worry about the long term well being of those in need.