Revealed: Government’s latest Centrelink cash-grab

The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, will discuss the Government’s decision to stop backdating Centrelink payments to the intention to claim date, which will be unfair, unlawful and sneaky. Mr Wilkie will also ask the Prime Minister about this in Question Time today.

Download a copy a leaked Centrelink directive and the relevant section of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 …

WHEN: 12:30pm TODAY 19 June
WHERE: Mural Hall, Parliament House CANBERRA

“A whistleblower has told me that, from 1 July this year, Centrelink will stop backdating payments to the date that a person originally contacts Centrelink about the claim,” Mr Wilkie said. “Instead, payments will only be backdated to the date that people are able to submit their formal claim.

“This is a very bad move. People who need Centrelink support are often in crisis and can’t lodge the paperwork immediately, for example women fleeing domestic violence, people suffering debilitating illnesses, and carers. Because of these changes, they will no longer have the assurance that they will be backpaid to the date that they contacted Centrelink.

“And let’s not forget that when people do make a claim, the process can often be convoluted with many delays. Documents go missing, people aren’t told that they need to provide additional information, and when they try and find out how their claim is progressing they can’t get through.

“Moreover this move appears to be illegal because section 13 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 clearly intends that a person is taken to have made a claim when they first contact Centrelink. The Government is trying to make this cut by stealth without going through Parliament.

“This is just another attempt by the Government to dismantle the social security safety net. We’ve seen them continue to send out thousands of incorrect debt notices to people and I’m pleased that the Ombudsman has agreed to my request to investigate that system again. The Government needs to stop seeing government pensions and payments as a budget line item and instead realise that every cut will hurt people who genuinely need support.”

Authorised by Andrew Wilkie MP 188 Collins St Hobart

Download …

Centrelink_backdating.pdf
Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie