Legal help available for Centrelink problems

[Banjo]

Legal help available for Centrelink problems

Tuesday, 21 July 2015

People living in the outer western metropolitan region and the Yarra Ranges now have more access to free legal help to understand and take up their rights in dealing with Centrelink.

Victoria Legal Aid’s expert Commonwealth entitlements lawyers will be providing local residents in the shires of Wyndham and Yarra Ranges with free legal help, information and advice.

Appointments for the outreach services will be available from the offices of Western Community Legal Centre in Werribee, and Eastern Community Legal Centre in Healesville.

Commonwealth Entitlements Program Manager Len Jaffit said the new services bring affordable legal help to where it is needed, with the support of the two local community legal centres.

Wyndham is Victoria’s fastest growing municipality, and the outer eastern suburbs also have significant unmet legal need. Hassles with Centrelink are common issues for residents living in these areas.

‘Dealing with Centrelink’s systems and processes are often difficult for ordinary people to understand. That’s why early legal help in understanding your rights and options is really important,’ Len said.

‘People sometimes feel helpless when they’re notified of a Centrelink decision and may not even realise that they have a right to ask for a review of the decision. The review and appeals processes can be complex and at times daunting.

‘It is always worth getting legal advice if you think Centrelink has got something wrong or has treated you unfairly, as it is not unusual for Centrelink’s original decision to be overturned at review.’

The Healesville outreach service also provides legal help to people wanting advice on guardianship and administration orders (legal documents that give power to one person to make decisions on behalf of another).
To make an appointment

To make an appointment for either the Werribee or Yarra Ranges service call 1300 792 387, Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm.

www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/about-us/news/legal-help-available-for-centrelink-problems

[nomadic]

Good find again banjo. What I have been saying for twenty years may be finally happening. I suspect tens of thousands if not hundreds may have had injustices done by centrelink because of the deceitful way they tell you to appeal, if they even tell you at all. I live in hope with this story. Alas i suspect still a long way to go.

[Banjo]

I tried to get their help in Adelaide for my SSAT and they kept me on a string for weeks then refused to help on the grounds that they "had information that I could afford to pay for a lawyer".

At the time I had had no payments for nearly 3 months as I refused to apply for NewStart.

[immiadvice]

My mother recently took on centrelink over a matter and they (centrelink) provided her with a lawyer between the ssat and aat stage. The lawyer handles all my mother's paperwork etc and centrelink caved before the aat hearing. Probably so not to set a precedent.

[scallywag]

Jul 22, 2015 22:13:51 GMT 7 immiadvice said:

My mother recently took on centrelink over a matter and they (centrelink) provided her with a lawyer between the ssat and aat stage. The lawyer handles all my mother's paperwork etc and centrelink caved before the aat hearing. Probably so not to set a precedent.

I have also been offered access to a legal aid lawyer for my up coming appeal.
It appears there is no in between SSAT and AAt any more.

From 1 July 2015 the Administrative Appeals Tribunal has responsibility for all matters previously dealt with by the Migration Review Tribunal, the Refugee Review Tribunal and the Social Security Appeals Tribunal.

[Banjo]

Yes, the SSAT/AAT system has been amalgamated into a single tribunal.