Post by Banker on Dec 14, 2011 6:35:36 GMT 7
Great outcome for elderly couple in Centrelink debt case
Date : 14 Dec 2011
An elderly couple are greatly relieved following a tribunal finding that a Centrelink administrative error was responsible for their $140,000 debt.
The Social Security Appeals Tribunal accepted VLA’s evidence that our clients were not responsible for the error, and waived the debt.
Their case highlights the plight of an increasingly large number of people being pursued for genuine mistakes within the complex maze of Centrelink rules.
The couple, who are in poor health, had been receiving Centrelink benefits since 1992, fully declaring their superannuation income at that point. Unbeknown to them, a year later, an administrative mistake by Centrelink meant the computer link to details of their super fund income was deleted.
‘This meant they were going happily along, expecting their payments were being adjusted in line with fluctuations in their super,’ explained their lawyer Julie Riva.
‘In fact, Centrelink were receiving twice yearly statements from the super fund, and had all the information to hand.
‘Our clients certainly had no reason to believe their super wasn’t being taken into account, and were stunned, when in April 2010, they were told they actually owed $143,000.’
Commonwealth Entitlements Program Manager, Len Jaffit, said Centrelink’s systems are confusing and difficult for ordinary people to understand, which is why legal help is so valuable.
‘In many cases where Centrelink’s original debt decision is closely scrutinised, an error will be found. Centrelink’s own annual report shows that around 30 per cent of people who challenge a decision have it changed on internal review.’
www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/3943.htm
Date : 14 Dec 2011
An elderly couple are greatly relieved following a tribunal finding that a Centrelink administrative error was responsible for their $140,000 debt.
The Social Security Appeals Tribunal accepted VLA’s evidence that our clients were not responsible for the error, and waived the debt.
Their case highlights the plight of an increasingly large number of people being pursued for genuine mistakes within the complex maze of Centrelink rules.
The couple, who are in poor health, had been receiving Centrelink benefits since 1992, fully declaring their superannuation income at that point. Unbeknown to them, a year later, an administrative mistake by Centrelink meant the computer link to details of their super fund income was deleted.
‘This meant they were going happily along, expecting their payments were being adjusted in line with fluctuations in their super,’ explained their lawyer Julie Riva.
‘In fact, Centrelink were receiving twice yearly statements from the super fund, and had all the information to hand.
‘Our clients certainly had no reason to believe their super wasn’t being taken into account, and were stunned, when in April 2010, they were told they actually owed $143,000.’
Commonwealth Entitlements Program Manager, Len Jaffit, said Centrelink’s systems are confusing and difficult for ordinary people to understand, which is why legal help is so valuable.
‘In many cases where Centrelink’s original debt decision is closely scrutinised, an error will be found. Centrelink’s own annual report shows that around 30 per cent of people who challenge a decision have it changed on internal review.’
www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/3943.htm