robc
Junior Member
Posts: 2
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Post by robc on May 26, 2023 9:03:11 GMT 7
Hi folks,
My friend Dan said that this forum is excellent for DSP advice and so I am posting here for help.
I could really use some advice about the Disability Support Pension. I am currently on DSP & live with two housemates. We have shared accommodation since 2015, at two different addresses (we had to move in 2021 as our previous house needed urgent & extensive repairs). During this time, I have been single. Recently, I have gotten close to one of my housemates & we're thinking of dating. I need advice on how to navigate this with Centrelink.
I am happy to declare the relationship and be moved to a partner rate. In the partner details form, I am happy to say we are defacto. I plan to put the relationship start date as when we start officially dating. I have known this person for nearly 10 years and if we pursue the relationship, it will be for the long-term.
My concerns are that when I declare my relationship to Centrelink, I don't want them to assume that we've been in a defacto relationship all this time and think that I withheld the status of my relationship from them when I've been single. Our other housemate is the sibling of my potential partner and can vouch for us.
Have people here been in similar situations or know how Centrelink handles this?
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Post by bear on May 26, 2023 13:25:23 GMT 7
G'day robc, welcome to the forum. It's difficult to advise on how Centrelink may react given your long term housemates status and changes in circumstances are meant to be advised within 14 days. Also; even though you may be happy to go on the partnered rate, can we take it the other party is of the same mind and is aware of their's and your own obligations? www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/change-circumstances-while-receiving-disability-support-pension?context=22276Something to ponder; the partnered rate may not be the partnered rate expected, if one of you is doing any work. Eg. I know of married couples that have had to declare themselves as 'separated, living under the same roof' in order to receive single payments in order to survive. www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/ss293Should you proceed to advise Centrelink of your newly partnered status, I suggest a statutory declaration from you as a couple using both signatures should satisfy them and allay any worry that you might have. Hopefully a member whose had a similar situation to you will respond. Good Luck; cheers 🐻 |
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robc
Junior Member
Posts: 2
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Post by robc on May 26, 2023 16:12:04 GMT 7
Thanks for the reply bear! You're right, I don't know how Centrelink will proceed. I asked on reddit and the consensus was that telling them is the right thing to do & to just be prepared for questions they may ask. As to your question, yes, my potential partner is aware of the situation and supports me going on a lowered pay rate. The cost of living crisis is horrible as always, but we feel we could weather it even with my lowered dsp. We have also looked at the partner details form and it seems pretty straightforward. I was also advised on reddit that sometimes centrelink takes a while to reduce the pay and then reclaims the overpayment as a debt. So we'll have to be cognizant of that. |
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Post by bear on May 26, 2023 19:32:21 GMT 7
To me this suggests the other party is not on a Centrelink payment, works and has set hours.
That is an ideal situation!
Fluctuations in a partners income is where it gets sloppy. Eg. One person receives 70-90% of their adjusted DSP rate when their partner is working 30 hours a fortnight. Life's great.
Suddenly a coworker leaves, goes on holidays, gets sick etc., and that 70-90% becomes 20-30% because of the extra hours p/f their partner is working. These numbers are only an analogy; but it can come as a bit of a shock should it happen. Not because of less combined gross income; but rather the possibility to have to readjust their level of self esteem for the DSPer.
Centrelink automatically adjusts the above, based on a partner's advised income. Without getting into any semantics, it's the legal thing to do to protect yourself being prosecuted for fraud if it all goes pear shaped. Not sure right & wrong comes into it, as Centrelink doesn't seem to differentiate between policy and legislation. Cheers 🐻
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Post by shermos on May 30, 2023 8:26:16 GMT 7
Hi, robc. Welcome.
My situation is different from yours, but I think you will still find my experience somewhat helpful.
My partner and I married earlier this year and declared our marriage within 14 days as required. We had been in a relationship for quite some time previously, but not living together. Centrelink didn't seem to have a problem with this. In your case, I believe each state and territory has a process for registering a defacto relationship. This is an option you may want to investigate depending on how seriously you and your housemate view the relationship. I don't know how easy or legally messy it is to exit a registered defacto relationship were that ever to be an issue for you.
Tell the truth as best you can, and be aware that Centrelink has the legal power to check what information other government agencies may have on your situation. I believe they can also check social media, though I'm not sure about this.
You can ask for a review if you think the decision Centrelink makes on your DSP is unfair or inconsistent with their rules. In my situation, my wife works overseas and gets paid on a monthly basis. Her income fluctuates due to the exchange rate. I was put on income reporting, which drastically lowered my pension. I asked for a review of the decision based on section 24 (of the social security act) grounds, mainly due to financial hardship given that we have a loan to pay off and expenses due to living separately. I am yet to receive correspondence on the outcome.
Another thing to be aware of is that Centrelink is very slow and their call centre and office staff don't seem to be well trained on the rules when it comes to relationships, especially for complicated situations like mine. You have the right to make a complaint if you run into any problems such as this.
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Post by bear on May 30, 2023 10:50:39 GMT 7
According to the media, that's exactly what they're doing shermos....... Cheers 🐻 "Centrelink is calling on police to trawl through customers’ metadata to find out if they are undertaking secret activities, such as being in an undeclared relationship.
Digital Rights Watch president Lizzie O’Shea told Jo McManus on 6PR Afternoons the data should only be used for serious criminal offences.
“Most Australians would be pretty disgusted,” said Ms O’Shea.
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Post by shermos on May 30, 2023 22:46:29 GMT 7
The legislation allows the use of password crackers?! Surely even the most "dole bludger" hating nutcase would think that's a bridge too far.
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Post by bear on May 31, 2023 6:02:45 GMT 7
The legislation allows the use of password crackers?! Surely even the most "dole bludger" hating nutcase would think that's a bridge too far. When it comes to the poor & vulnerable shermos , I don't think that thinking about the morality of any given action that may cause them even further hardship or harm would've been thought about at all by the former government, other than perhaps to think; "Is this really the worst we can do to them." Scotty was akin to the beast with seven heads from the book of revelation, ruling roughshod over his self proclaimed portfolios. Cheers 🐻 |
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