I was planning budget for the week, I had bills to pay and fine on its last warning. I was notified that I had letters in my myGov inbox. They told me that I was $22000 in debt. And also my payment was reduced by $300. So there was no paying bills or the fine. I went into Centrelink the next day to find out why. Turns out that because the care percentage for my son with CSA was at 14% and with Centrelink it was 100%. I had been overpaid FTB and parenting payment. The only reason it was at 14% is because I was unable to change it when my son moved back home from his fathers. Even after emailing CSA all those years ago it was not changed.
After a long phone call via NRS (I am deaf) and request forms. We have managed to get it down to $8000. They took my $3500 top up (the extra money for under payments) which was suppose to go towards new tyres, school fees and uniforms, bills and loans to family made though out the year and Christmas. (And hit me with another $3000 of debt) Of course none of that is happening now. I also have to pay an extra $100 on top of my unpaid fine. Sometimes I'm not sure if I will end up in hosptial first or in the ground. Having struggled with anxiety and depression most of my life, this has made it worse. I am now on Newstart payments and I have had some much trouble trying to gain employment.
I have disconnection notices for utilities. Thankfully I am in a homeswest house so I think I'm safe there, although there are so many things that need fixing that I can't afford now. Every day is struggle because now not only do I need to pay back a debt I do not owe but I don't have that safety net of Centrelink loans.
It took quiet a bit of running around to find out why I owed the debt. Centrelink said it was from CSA. I had to follow up with CSA a few times before I got anything changed and am now being ignore all together. I have just two years to fix but apparently to much time has passed for me to fight it. In other words not enough time has passed for them to give me the debt but to much for me to prove its wrong. Thankfully though I am only required to pay back $20 a fortnight. Hopefully I can get this fixed quickly.