Complicated situation with partner and work.

[shermos]

Hi all. Long time no see.

My partner and I recently married. She is an overseas citizen and returned there for her job. I will be joining her semi permanently towards the end of the year once I've got all my affairs in Australia sorted out and found work, but for now we live apart. I did the right thing and reported my change of circumstances to Centrelink. They decided to decrease my payment and put me on income reporting. Keep in mind that my wife and I don't even live in the same country let alone in the same dwelling. She cannot send money to me easily (not that I would ask her to) as her country has quite strict capital controls.

Mygov won't let me report her income properly because her job doesn't have an ABN. Every time I try to report, no information is recorded after I sign out. I've been left with a radically reduced payment which is making it hard to make ends meet.

I suspect the legislation has been interpreted unfairly for my case and am preparing to lodge an appeal. Has anyone here ran into a similar situation? 

[Banjo]

I'd try running it past your state Welfare Rights office.

[latindancer]

I agree. This is a problem that you want to be fighting together with people who have experience in it. But also check back here to see if anyone else has advice....you never know who pops up.

[shermos]

Update:

I'm feeling a bit like that polar bear today latindancer.

I managed to get in touch with Welfare Rights. The lady I spoke with said I may have grounds for an exemption under Section 24 of the Social Security Act. She didn't seem very optimistic a review on Sec 24 would succeed though. It's apparently completely up to Centrelink to decide if an exemption is appropriate unless I were to go to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

As for Income reporting, the fact I can't view previous reports is definitely something I have grounds to make a complaint about.

Edit:

I've just found I've been issued a debt notice .