Post by rowdy on Mar 13, 2012 23:29:04 GMT 7
All foreign to crew at Centrelink
AUSTRALIAN born and having dutifully paid my taxes for 60 years I am not in the least embarrassed, and neither is my partner, to receive from the Australian government a meagre ''top-up'' to our private superannuation.
Hitherto the only disadvantage has been the enormous amount of paperwork and futile hours spent on the phone in speaking to our courteous and friendly ''controllers'' at Centrelink.
Unfortunately this symbiotic relationship ended last year when a friend offered us the two months free loan of an apartment in a country far, far away. Being well trained we spent the usual 20 minutes on the phone to inform Centrelink of our dates of absence and learnt this information would in any case be automatically passed on from Immigration.
Returning home refreshed, we opened our mail to discover that ''Financial Assessment'' forms had been sent only days after we left Sydney. These forms had been followed by the 21 day FINAL NOTICE letters and as a result of our not furnishing the required information, our pension payments had been suspended.
Much phone time later and having posted Centrelink the required information, we were told payments would recommence ''within'' the next month.
Somewhat irritated that our Centrelink contact seemed not to see the point that our absence from the country was on record, I ran this matter past the Federal Minister, our local Member. We received a very sympathetic reply and in due course an apologetic phone call from a Centrelink Supervisor who agreed that one section should speak to the other and that the whole thing was unnecessary and would never happen again. It was promised the computer in question would be severely told-off.
I know, dear reader, you would be saddened if the story should end there. Of course it doesn't.
In January this year, in anticipation of a February visit to Singapore to use up unexpired air mileage credit points, we rang Centrelink with the dates of our two weeks' absence. We explained our previous problem and asked if there was to be any review or assessment or other torment expected while we were away.
Zilch - so off we went.
You are way ahead aren't you? Of course on the day we arrived back there were the letters from Centrelink, dated the day we left the country and demanding a reply within 21 days which was the next day.
Filled in the forms, rushed to post office, phoned Centrelink and explained. We will have your reply tomorrow sir, do not worry, all will be well, he said and it was. Until 21 days later, when the FINAL NOTICES arrived.
I rest my case?
Read more: www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/all-foreign-to-crew-at-centrelink-20120313-1uydo.html#ixzz1p0z7ZGux
AUSTRALIAN born and having dutifully paid my taxes for 60 years I am not in the least embarrassed, and neither is my partner, to receive from the Australian government a meagre ''top-up'' to our private superannuation.
Hitherto the only disadvantage has been the enormous amount of paperwork and futile hours spent on the phone in speaking to our courteous and friendly ''controllers'' at Centrelink.
Unfortunately this symbiotic relationship ended last year when a friend offered us the two months free loan of an apartment in a country far, far away. Being well trained we spent the usual 20 minutes on the phone to inform Centrelink of our dates of absence and learnt this information would in any case be automatically passed on from Immigration.
Returning home refreshed, we opened our mail to discover that ''Financial Assessment'' forms had been sent only days after we left Sydney. These forms had been followed by the 21 day FINAL NOTICE letters and as a result of our not furnishing the required information, our pension payments had been suspended.
Much phone time later and having posted Centrelink the required information, we were told payments would recommence ''within'' the next month.
Somewhat irritated that our Centrelink contact seemed not to see the point that our absence from the country was on record, I ran this matter past the Federal Minister, our local Member. We received a very sympathetic reply and in due course an apologetic phone call from a Centrelink Supervisor who agreed that one section should speak to the other and that the whole thing was unnecessary and would never happen again. It was promised the computer in question would be severely told-off.
I know, dear reader, you would be saddened if the story should end there. Of course it doesn't.
In January this year, in anticipation of a February visit to Singapore to use up unexpired air mileage credit points, we rang Centrelink with the dates of our two weeks' absence. We explained our previous problem and asked if there was to be any review or assessment or other torment expected while we were away.
Zilch - so off we went.
You are way ahead aren't you? Of course on the day we arrived back there were the letters from Centrelink, dated the day we left the country and demanding a reply within 21 days which was the next day.
Filled in the forms, rushed to post office, phoned Centrelink and explained. We will have your reply tomorrow sir, do not worry, all will be well, he said and it was. Until 21 days later, when the FINAL NOTICES arrived.
I rest my case?
Read more: www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/all-foreign-to-crew-at-centrelink-20120313-1uydo.html#ixzz1p0z7ZGux
