The Logic Of Centrelink Has Me Dumbfounded

[topsi4]

DJ1, I wish you luck. I was in a similar position a few years ago and took it to the Tribunal. They phoned and asked me a series of questions. I might add months had passed and I had no income and was living on my line of credit.

The answer was, my claim was denied. I had a back injury and it was 10 months before I could work again and I was left with a huge amount of debt which I had taken years to reduce and took a further two years to clear.

Because I shared my house with someone else, despite our finances being completely separate, Centrelink expected him to "keep" me. It was a humiliating and quite a shattering experience and I still feel the hurt and anger 8 years later, whenever I think of it.

I hope you'll let us know how you go. Again, GOOD LUCK!

[DJ1]

ok I just hung up the phone with the SSAT people, it all pretty well, they asked a heap of questions and they also obtained from me alot of "personal" information but as I said I was happy to answer anything as I had nothing to hide, they told me they will probally come to a decission today but I wont know of it for about another 2 weeks. They also told me that if they rule in my favour Centrelink can appeal that decission *sigh* so thats all I know, I will let you all know anything that happens when I find out about it..

[topsi4]

Thanks DJ1 and good luck.

[4th class citizen]

Yes good luck.

I am really amazed these days at Centrelink.

Heard lots of stories re this sort of situation.

Seems two of one gender can do anything but one of each are suspect. Discrimination I reckon.

[4th class citizen]

Additionally if they paid the one flat rate to all and didn't discriminate against married couples (defacto too) would save heaps on investigations.

I find them to be a bit ambiguous on many of their rules.

[forthebattler]

I find them absolutely amazing..lets see:
baby bonus for having a baby a single mum could in effect have this bonus, tax free of course, have an income of $10,000 per year plus single parents pension. Oh and lets not forget the immunisation bonus, the bonus for $500 per year for school children and the "in the pipleline" bonus to pay mothers to ensure that the child goes to school. Oh and then theres the family assistance part a and b, if you claim who the father is Child support and all the while they may very well be shafting the system by "appearing" to be seperated etc in a very well orchestrated manipultion of the very same system that will not pay beneifts to the REAL people that need it and are only just surviving. How do i know that this occurs...well i HAD a d/in/law that milked the ssyten for all it is worth and contines to do. The not so estranged husband doens't change his address lives with her and claims the dole....wake up Centrelink hit the system abusers not the good guys just getting by......

[davidxxx]

A (female) friend an I (I am a guy) shared accommodation for about 10 years - she received a disability pension and I worked. But we were just friends who happened to have similar values and interests.

When I had to leave work permantly due to medical problems, and so claimed a disability pension they tried to claim that we were a couple.

I insisted we were just friends, and after refusing to let them contact a local minister and local doctor to verify my statement, they finally conceded that we were not a couple. I had pointed out to them that neither the minister or doctor would know the basis of our relationship, and though they were disconcerted by this, had to accept that it was the case.

Finally, I just stated to them that they needed to tell us what to do to insure we were not seen as a couple - they found this difficult, and so gave in to my arguement.

The main thing is never let the buggers boss you around, and put the onus on them to spell out in detail what you need to do to make sure you are not treated as a couple.

Good luck with your appeal

[4th class citizen]

DJ1 Never did come back and say her outcome.

Good on you David sounds like you won what is a silly time wasting cost to the taxpayer as no real criteria to prove it without the "Gestapo" raiding the bedrooms at 3 am



Would save a lot of wages spent on tracking down who is living with whom if they just paid a basic benefit to each and every person without discriminating on the married status.

Because lets face it - the real big and only difference if the cost of the roof which for renters is paid as rent assistance.

There never was any help for anyone buying. But they do do a title search.

Married folk in public housing are treated by paying 25% of their combined income. Single pays 25%.

Probably this area needs a look at as state bureaucrats seem only to collect rent without looking after the taxpayers investment the property and have no idea whom is living there at any time. or even if the name on the paperwork is genuine - sad but true.

They already check up on the rent of private rentals - only need to add checking on names of tenants with the Agent/Landlord and if sharing bedrooms as we know as we do inspections - save taxpayer funds there too.

By then paying the rent assistance direct to the Tenants Landlord - not a lot of extra work on a computer - sets up a business relationship with the Agent/Landlord and keeps all the bastards honest.

Just my suggestions as they employ heaps of folk checking on this one thing and it is fairly simple to cut out the cost which would make up for the extra paid to persons on the benefit and make it fair.

BTW before anyone jumps in the concessions some get on pensions are to the household not individuals so cant be rorted which is good as human nature isnt always

[DJ1]

Would you believe that it went all the way to the AAT (administration appeals tribunal) and the day before the case was to be heard centrelink backed down! but.. and I do mean BUT.. they state that by them backing down was only due to lack of evidence and not a admission of wrong doing, so they are saying that they may not be able to win and have reversed the decission but they are not admiting they are wrong and there original findings stand, they just cant proove it. qand to be honest its not 100% finished yet as I have not been back paid, this only happened this year.. so yes a long long saga...

[DJ1]

oh yea 1 last thing, I am a He not a She.. I had to go and check but yea I am confident I am a he :)

[4th class citizen]

sorry mate.

Glad to hear it has all been for your good let us know when you get the back pay in your hot hand so as to be 100% sure