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Centrelink A Sore Point

Centrelink A Sore Point

Tags: Consumer Action
Last updated by Kayley Harris on

In last week’s newsletter we shared member Noel’s story of frustration with Centrelink to apply for the aged pension. Noel obviously hit a nerve as your responses have been coming in thick and fast ever since.

This one from Ray:

Hi Kayley

In this week’s newsletter there is a post from Noel on the paperwork involved in applying for the aged pension. Whilst I found this relatively simple the big surprise is that after 4 months, nothing has been processed by the department and no reply received. I have visited a Centrelink office and phoned only to be advised all is correct and that the department has a huge backlog of applications to process.

I wonder if other members are experiencing the same delays. When January 2017 comes around I will be ineligible as the rules change but now I would be eligible.

I’m happy to report that just as we were about to publish the newsletter, we received an update from Ray…

Miracles do happen. We received a reply last night that the pension application has been approved as at the 1st week of April so it took over 4 months for a reply.

 

Originally posted on .

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Someone
Someone from WA commented:

I had one look at the paper work required to apply for the pension and gave up all to hard. I will wait until I can qualify for the full pension and then I will pay some one to sort it out. 

Someone
Someone from WA commented:

The Abbott / Turnbull Liberal Government has deliberately understaffed Centrelink (and other government agencies). There simply aren't anywhere near enough staff to do the work that the Parliament requires of Centrelink. It is callousness and/or incompetence at it's highest level. 

kayley
kayley from NSW commented:

Agree...most government departments appear to be over-staffed at the top level and under-staffed at the coal face..K 

Christine
Christine from NSW commented:

Trying to get a serious answer from Centrelink is not possible My husband is on aged Pension and I work part time and although my pay varies very little his pension varies a lot ....... How is that possible ! Frustrated Teena 

kayley
kayley from NSW replied to Christine:

Hi Christine, I look after my elderly mother's pension and I notice the amount jumps around a bit as well...K 

Lyn
Lyn from NSW replied to Christine:

Christine, not saying it is so in ur case but if also receipt of foreign pension as well as part- Oz pension to make up difference, the Oz part goes up & down with exchange rates so it can alter every Oz part -- payment and in these times, quite dramatically. 

Christine
Christine from NSW replied to Lyn:

Thanks Lyn but we have no overseas pension & my pay doesn't change much but still his pension varies Plus ....... He has a "work bonus" of $4000 & they told him he can earn that much without it affecting his pension then when he did earn money and declared it as per the rules they took all but $47 of his pension & didn't deduct from work bonus ! Too confusing 

Lyn
Lyn from NSW replied to Christine:

Hi Christine, sounds difficult, they make it so confusing don't they? No-one could possibly work it out for themselves no matter how much info available online. I reckon when they make changes they should supply detailed "worksheet " in easily understood manner, after all they have keyed in that information to reach a figure so why not send to client as well---bit like a bank statement perhaps? 

Lyn
Lyn from NSW commented:

Hi Kayley, Why hasn't Centrelink advised existing clients who will be affected from 1/1/17 by reduced part-pensions what that reduction will be? Only short time to go now so how can one budget for when it happens if we don't know exact reduction? 

kayley
kayley from NSW replied to Lyn:

Hi Lyn, can I post your comment in our newsletter and facebook? It could get some traction and comments from other members. I'll also ask Christopher Zinn to perhaps write a blog on it...good point 

Lyn
Lyn from NSW replied to kayley:

Kayley, Yes, that's O.K. 

Edward
Edward from QLD replied to Lyn:

If you go to the following web site www.superguide.com.au/smsfs you will get the guidelines. 

Lyn
Lyn from NSW replied to Edward:

Edward, thanks for that. Have done but I'd still like it from the horse's mouth. Think it courteous that the Govt should advise all clients soon as, to the dollar, so budgeting can be done in advance to know what situation we find ourselves in. They acted within 4 wks in 2015 to get legislation passed a.s.a.p. so 4mths to notify clients should be a doddle. 

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