NotMyDebt Stories
We are collecting stories on the site because we think it's important to have a way to people to add their voice to this issue by sharing their story. It's puts a human voice to the issues with using technology and automating systems and providing a blanket solution without providing staff and people that can right wrongs and help people when there is an error.
Please share your story with us if you have a Centrelink debt story that you believe has been issued in error or due to a fault in the system.
As frustrating as it is, persist with the appeals process, and know others are behind you.
Stories are 100% anonymous
Despite multiple mental health disabilities and an autistic spectrum disorder I tried reentering the workforce. I obtained two qualifications and found work teaching other people with disabilities. I was, for most of that time, working three part time casual teaching jobs.
Lets be clear on something, I am not someone who has spent more than 3 months on Centrelink payments.
I have only accessed assistance thrice since 2010 due to medical issues.
I was sent a debt collection notice for $1300 approx. I knew on receiving this that there was a stuff up by Centrelink.
For the past several years I have been under major financial stress. To the point I was very close to declaring bankruptcy.
Initially the letter I received wanted me to confirm my income for the period jan-jun 30 2014 as tax record did not match my declared income in that financial year. I made an error as I could not work out from the very limited options online as to how to give my somewhat complicated earnings.
Was given the debt, couldn't pay our rent anymore. Had to move my family around for six months until we found a house we could afford. I reported all my income I made from 3 casual jobs, even when I wasn't actually given the money by some slack bosses, I still reported and lost out twice.
3 years ago I had been working casually part-time when I needed to stop because of a back injury. I completed all the necessary Centrelink documentation to receive Newstart allowance under a medical exemption. I was not granted this allowance until I could prove via Separation Certificate that I was no longer working and thus had no income.
I went onto newstart snd austudy when i commrnced fulltme studies in feb 2015.
Getting the letter right before Christmas and going overseas was incredibly difficult. Then had to try and talk to someone at Centrelink about what to do and chase up payslips from employers from over 6 years ago. Lots of extra work and stress. Still waiting for a resolution.
I received an email in my junk email to say I had a myGov email. The email asked me to confirm my earnings from 2010-2012. I checked my tax from those years and the amount Centrelink said was the same as I had on record so I confirmed amounts as correct...then up pops a $5000 debt!
I am currently long-term un/under-employed, primarily because of a history of mental health issues. Despite having great optimism for 2017, and looking forward to regaining some independence, I am currently living on scant savings in a sometimes difficult home environment.
At the moment its still "pending" (so appealing debt at this moment is not an option I have just yet, should it changed I will go full pit bull) so apparently quite okay to take out $63 per fortnight without any notice of why or wherefore. .
Anxiety levels have increased, cannot focus at work or around those I love. I am meant to be moving overseas to start my dream job which I worked hard for and now I have been told I have an inaccurate debt. I never received letters I only heard from the debt collector.
My story is a fair bit older dating back to the early 2000's but still partially unresolved. I was one of the last ever recipients of a Centrelink TAFE voucher, a system they used to use to get unemployed youth into training.
Well, that fact that it was over Christmas while everything was closed and I found the letter on my last hour of work for the year - I was hysterical.
Im a mother of 6 and currently studying fulltime. They've started cutting installments from our fortnightly amount which comes straight out of our food budget. I now feed 8 people on $300 for 2weeks. Its real tough and stressful.
We are a single income family and claimed correctly that hubby had no wage or income for the 2014/2015 tax year. received both family tax benefit a and b, plus a single income low family income benefit.
Centrelink made an error, they actually owe me $3,600 which I am in the process of trying to recoup.
The debt letters were a shock, very depressing, especially before Christmas. My debt is resolved now but I live in fear that the system will fail again, I was fortunate this time. Maybe not next time.
I am writing for my son who is a diagnosed schizophrenic.
After being released from hospital suffering pychosis he was struggling to attend university and provided medical certificates from the hospital as well as pychiatrist to centrelink as required.
I only heard about this debt four years later (2016), when they kept my tax return... I had been getting missed calls from debt collectors (as I never answer my phone to numbers I don't know) for a few months. I chose to ignore the calls as in my mind I 100% knew I owed no money to anyone...
After first child and returning to work I applied for the childcare rebate, the dollars that are not means tested and everyone is basically entitled to. This rebate was credited to my own bank account and I thought no issues.
I'd like to just point out the debt was raised against my Autistic son in 2009 but the form above didn't give me that option. I understand it is still being paid back today at $35 per fortnight primarily because, from the date the debt was raised, my son vowed to never ask for welfare again.
Luckily I have a good job, so I'm not that stressed, just extremely annoyed. However, since I haven't had anything to do with Centrelink for 2 years, all attempted correspondence from them was lost in the ether until the debt collectors rang.
Just like many of the stories already shared i received a letter from Centrelink advising of a $8300 debt from 2010 to 2012. Hours waiting on hold and numerous calls to eventually be told that they could see that the debt was incorrect as the system had doubled my income due to not recognising the ABN of my employer.
Receiving the information short of Christmas, and not actually being aware due to work committments and not realising the important need to access the MyGov site (snail mail would have been far more effective!).
Got a letter saying i was overpaid from August till September and that was not studying full time at university, however i was studying full time at university from 1/8-18/8 and had to drop down to part time due to stress.