Post by bear on Dec 31, 2020 8:47:12 GMT 7
Pensioners threatened with loss of Centrelink payments 'one minute before Christmas'
Geoff Parry says many pensioners are worried after receiving an unexpected Centrelink letter.(ABC North Coast: Samantha Turnbull)
A northern New South Wales retiree threatened with losing his part pension is concerned thousands of people are being targeted by another Robodebt-like scheme.
Key points:
• State Super clients have received letters from Centrelink threatening them with a loss of payments
• Recipients had been unable to contact the superannuation provider due to the Christmas break
• Services Australia says no action is needed unless clients are contacted again in the New Year
Richmond Hill resident Geoff Parry was in hospital the week before Christmas when he received an email from Centrelink.
It told him that unless he provided updated information about his superannuation fund by January 6, 2021, his payments may be stopped.
Mr Parry said the request was unusual because in 10 years he had never had to provide Centrelink with information directly.
"Whoever it was that instigated these letters one minute before Christmas with a deadline of January 6, otherwise you lose your part pension … that's not the sort of thing one human does to another," he said.
"It's not fair and it's not right."
Mr Parry immediately tried to call the NSW superannuation provider, State Super, but they were closed for the Christmas-New Year break.
He then visited the Centrelink office in Lismore where a staff member told him many others had visited to complain about the same issue.
It was not until he approached the office of Page MP Kevin Hogan that Mr Parry was granted an extension by Centrelink to provide his details.
"The problem with computerised systems is you try to speak to someone, you get an answering machine that refers you to the website, and they refer you to a phone number," Mr Parry said.
"The issue for many of us is that we become dependent on this income and to have it threatened by a computer-generated letter is just not on."
'No need to worry'
Several callers to ABC North Coast's breakfast radio program said they had received the same letter as Mr Parry and found the contents distressing.
A Services Australia spokesperson said income stream review letters were sent out routinely when providers had not passed on clients' information.
"Normally NSW State Super would have already provided this complete information to Services Australia. However it didn't happen in this case," the spokesperson said.
"When NSW State Super became aware their members had received this request, they acted quickly to address the situation."
The Services Australia spokesperson said they were working with State Super to finalise the income stream review without customers having to provide further details.
"We want to assure NSW State Super members who have received a letter that there is no need to worry," the Services Australia spokesperson said.
"There's no need to do anything further unless we get in touch with them in the New Year."
Find more local newsTell us your location and find more local ABC News and information
In response, State Super published the following statement on their website:
We understand that Services Australia has requested State Super pensioners provide information about their income stream to Centrelink or their Centrelink payment may be stopped.
State Super has already reported this data to Centrelink and no further action is required by our pensioners.
www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-30/centrelink-threatens-nsw-state-super-clients/13021016
Geoff Parry says many pensioners are worried after receiving an unexpected Centrelink letter.(ABC North Coast: Samantha Turnbull)
A northern New South Wales retiree threatened with losing his part pension is concerned thousands of people are being targeted by another Robodebt-like scheme.
Key points:
• State Super clients have received letters from Centrelink threatening them with a loss of payments
• Recipients had been unable to contact the superannuation provider due to the Christmas break
• Services Australia says no action is needed unless clients are contacted again in the New Year
Richmond Hill resident Geoff Parry was in hospital the week before Christmas when he received an email from Centrelink.
It told him that unless he provided updated information about his superannuation fund by January 6, 2021, his payments may be stopped.
Mr Parry said the request was unusual because in 10 years he had never had to provide Centrelink with information directly.
"Whoever it was that instigated these letters one minute before Christmas with a deadline of January 6, otherwise you lose your part pension … that's not the sort of thing one human does to another," he said.
"It's not fair and it's not right."
Mr Parry immediately tried to call the NSW superannuation provider, State Super, but they were closed for the Christmas-New Year break.
He then visited the Centrelink office in Lismore where a staff member told him many others had visited to complain about the same issue.
It was not until he approached the office of Page MP Kevin Hogan that Mr Parry was granted an extension by Centrelink to provide his details.
"The problem with computerised systems is you try to speak to someone, you get an answering machine that refers you to the website, and they refer you to a phone number," Mr Parry said.
"The issue for many of us is that we become dependent on this income and to have it threatened by a computer-generated letter is just not on."
'No need to worry'
Several callers to ABC North Coast's breakfast radio program said they had received the same letter as Mr Parry and found the contents distressing.
A Services Australia spokesperson said income stream review letters were sent out routinely when providers had not passed on clients' information.
"Normally NSW State Super would have already provided this complete information to Services Australia. However it didn't happen in this case," the spokesperson said.
"When NSW State Super became aware their members had received this request, they acted quickly to address the situation."
The Services Australia spokesperson said they were working with State Super to finalise the income stream review without customers having to provide further details.
"We want to assure NSW State Super members who have received a letter that there is no need to worry," the Services Australia spokesperson said.
"There's no need to do anything further unless we get in touch with them in the New Year."
Find more local newsTell us your location and find more local ABC News and information
In response, State Super published the following statement on their website:
We understand that Services Australia has requested State Super pensioners provide information about their income stream to Centrelink or their Centrelink payment may be stopped.
State Super has already reported this data to Centrelink and no further action is required by our pensioners.
www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-30/centrelink-threatens-nsw-state-super-clients/13021016