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Just trying to get ahead

Debt amount: 
$7000
Date debt issued: 
Friday, 1 July 2016
Period debt occurred: 
June 2020
Has your case been referred to a collection agency?: 
No
Payment Type: 
Parenting Payment
Tell us about your debt and how has this affected you? e.g. anxiety levels, financial and accommodation stress: 

I was hit twice by the RoboDebt scheme.

The first year they stated I owed money from an employment role in 2008.
I was working as a Cadet getting Study Allowance alongside my Salary — Centrelink calculated that I earned $8000 in 8 weeks. What a laugh!
I am a single parent who could only dream of earning that kind of money.

They sent me a debt letter of $3600.

I have paid that despite the fact that I knew I did not owe it, I did not want the stress and anxiety — just working to make ends meet as it is.

Then I was hit with another $3600 debt.
Centrelink stated that I did not notify them of employment I had, when you can see that I did not recieve any money from Centrelink two weeks after my initial employment — this was 2012.
I had spent 1 and half years unemployed prior to this employment, they hit me in 2015-2016 with both these Debts.

Although I made payment arrangements and was paying off the second Debt, two years in a row, Centrelink reached in and took two years worth of Tax Returns.

I spent two years discussing this with Centrelink, with the onus on me to provide the evidence.
I contacted both employment places — both State Government roles only to have to wait 6 weeks to be provided the Payslips printout.
Sadly, I was left barely surviving from pay to pay and struggled to pay rent to my State Housing home charging me $415 a week rent (in accordance with my pay) whilst Centrelink were taking money from my measly Family Tax Benefit payment.
I was evicted and pushed into the private rental market in November 2016.

I felt depressed and suicidal but did not give up, I knew that I was not at fault.

I have paid back all of this money.
I want it back and what I could not pay off my HECS Debt due to not receiving multiple tax refunds — I do not trust the Government, ATO, Centrelink at all!

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

Unethical and pathetic theft of the people, they will try to take our Superannuation if they could.
Politicians do not understand the average persons daily struggle. They need a huge lesson in 'real empathy'.
Disgusting just about sums it up for me.

My children and I have been through poverty at a time when I working hard to lift us out of it by working and study.
Now, I just cannot trust those in POWER!