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Post by flyingsolo on Mar 2, 2021 7:51:15 GMT 7
hi guys, i am very new to this. my wife has been suffering from mental sickness more than 9 yrs. after doing lot of paper work she was granted dsp in march 2020. last 4ht of February 2021 i applied for a low income health care card from my centrelink online account then it got rejected 19th of february in the same time i received a letter my wife dsp also cancelled. i contacted centrelink few times about this matter and officers also confused why this happended they said they cant fix it they ecalated to a higher officer. i am really stuggling now as i dont have any other income for rent and bills. i work casual part time but i never earned no where near to the cutoff point and my wife payments never been to the nill rate form my income. i contacted welfare rights one officer is investidating this matter. i really appriciate any suggestions from you guys. thanks a lot
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Post by Banjo on Mar 2, 2021 12:02:18 GMT 7
Welcome to the forum flyingsolo, sorry to hear about your problems.
You've done the correct thing getting Welfare Rights onto it, it may take them a while, their funding has been slashed in the last few years. About all I'd prepare for at this stage is getting an appeal ready such as talking to your wife's medical practitioner with a view to a new assessment. They would also have some idea whether this is a general attack on DSP recipients or you have been singled out for some reason.
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Post by bear on Mar 2, 2021 13:13:56 GMT 7
Welcome to the forum flyingsolo . As Banjo has said, you're on the right track. All I'd add is ask welfare rights to assist your wife/you in applying for your wife's file under the FOI Act. (Freedom of Information) Her file will have all of the documentation Centrelink/Services Australia have regarding her, her original claim and how they made their original determination to grant her DSP. That information can be quite enlightening and may assist greatly in any appeal that may be forthcoming. Cheers bear P.S. Contacting and filing a formal complaint to your local Federal Representative may also see things move a little more swiftly and a resolution forthcoming sooner rather than later.
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Post by tasjo on Mar 2, 2021 17:11:35 GMT 7
Hi flyingsolo
You can request an urgent escalation due to being in severe financial hardship. This can be either from Welfare Rights or from a Federal MP.
Without knowing your situation, it would seem more likely administrative if no letters were received or reviews for her DSP. Did you get given a reason as to why the Low income HCC was rejected? If you havent already asked, it may be worth asking the Federal MP/welfare rights to find this out for you.
Requesting your file and getting assistance from Welfare Rights are a really good idea. In my experience the Federal MP has been quicker.
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Post by flyingsolo on Mar 3, 2021 5:29:32 GMT 7
now they have sent us a low income health care card but her payments still cancelled. even welfarerights solicitor said centrelink can not find why her dsp got cancelled. when i called centrelink operators ove the phone trying to fix it but they cant. they said they ecalated the case to a higher person. when they granted her dsp in march 2020 they said i have to report every fortnight on her centrelink account. but i never earned no where near the cutoff point, actually the cutoff point is couple living togehter is 3163.20 for fortnight. her paymets never been nil due to my income. when she granted our fedaral member gave a letter too. centrelink says someone will call me.......i am very depressed organze documents again as i did year a go.
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Post by bear on Mar 3, 2021 10:13:39 GMT 7
Have you been reporting fortnightly flyingsolo ? My understanding is you have to report, irrespective of whether you meet the threshold or not. If you haven't been reporting, my suggestion is to gather up all of your income statements over the last year in preparation for being asked for them; so Centrelink can then reinstate your wife's DSP and reconcile their own accounts when they receive your pay slips from the ATO. The suggested action may save you some extra unwanted stress and help move things along when the time comes. Cheers bear Note:- This is only applicable if you haven't been reporting fortnightly.
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Post by tasjo on Mar 3, 2021 10:46:30 GMT 7
There has been a recent change to Centrelink systems that only affects people who have the same income and therefore are not required to report fortnightly. I received a letter a month or so ago saying I needed to contact Centrelink asap or my payment would be cancelled. It may be the same for you?
I'll see if I can find the letter and a reference and msg you directly.
The other thing I remember being useful when dealing with Centrelink is to speak to complaints rather than the disability number. They often have experience with other issues and can escalate quicker.
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Post by bear on Mar 3, 2021 11:09:17 GMT 7
That an interesting development tasjo ....... Thanks for that. It's like an acceptance that permanent part time work is the new normal. Cheers bear Centrelink Complaints Line: 1800 132 468 (Free Call)
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Post by tasjo on Mar 3, 2021 15:03:43 GMT 7
It was a system update bear, I just had to call and confirm that my husbands income hadnt changed (his part time income is stable so doesnt have to be reported)
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Post by flyingsolo on Mar 4, 2021 9:24:21 GMT 7
i did report every forntnight. and her payments never been to the nill rate. plus couple living together cutoff point is 3163.20 per fortnight. i have been to local centrelink office yesterday and they admit its a mistake done by one of their staff member. local officer also had to stay on the line for half an hour to reach them. she asked if they can fix it right now they said no as its in appeal category now but they can ecalate it. they said it will fix by this friday which is 5ht of march. i hope they will fix it without hasseling me. because my wife doesnt answer calls when she having episodes. plus i am sick and tired gathering documets as i did it last year. she was granted last year in march. do u guys think they will ask documets again?
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Post by bear on Mar 4, 2021 11:32:55 GMT 7
i did report every forntnight. and her payments never been to the nill rate. plus couple living together cutoff point is 3163.20 per fortnight. i have been to local centrelink office yesterday and they admit its a mistake done by one of their staff member. local officer also had to stay on the line for half an hour to reach them. she asked if they can fix it right now they said no as its in appeal category now but they can ecalate it. they said it will fix by this friday which is 5ht of march. i hope they will fix it without hasseling me. because my wife doesnt answer calls when she having episodes. plus i am sick and tired gathering documets as i did it last year. she was granted last year in march. do u guys think they will ask documets again? No; for the simple reason they've now determined it was their mistake and said it will be rectified by tomorrow 5 March. They'll still have all your documents!! Cheers bear
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Post by flyingsolo on Mar 4, 2021 12:17:49 GMT 7
thank so much for you guys advising me. i have a little child as well. no one here to help me no family. i was under so much pressure with rent bills
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Post by bear on Mar 4, 2021 14:15:44 GMT 7
thank so much for you guys advising me. i have a little child as well. no one here to help me no family. i was under so much pressure with rent bills Have they kept paying your wife's DSP from 19th February; while this has been under appeal? If not, she should also receive back-dated pay to when they stopped paying her..... Cheers bear
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Post by tasjo on Mar 4, 2021 14:25:59 GMT 7
The change we had was on my side even though the income is my husbands flyingsolo (I used to report his incomr less frequently)...
If you dont receive a payment on Friday please contact a federal mp and the complaints line, keep contacting until you know when you are going to get the payment reinstated.
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Post by flyingsolo on Mar 4, 2021 16:37:05 GMT 7
my wife supposed to get a payment 3rd of march they didnt pay it. local centrelink officer said they will back pay her when it restored. i supposed to report my income 1st of march but there was no link in my wife account as it used to be. even i called them the operators couldnt do it.
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