Services Australia bungles: Not our friends

[bear]

‘You are deceased’: Services Australia bungle results in woman losing bank accounts and pension.

A 74-year-old carer was mistakenly declared dead by Centrelink two times in a case advocates describe as illustrating the ‘devastating consequences of automation’

The Centrelink officer on the end of the phone to Eve* was telling her she was dead. Eve, 74, who receives a carer payment, had called after she noticed an extra $3,000 from Centrelink in her 81-year-old husband’s account in May this year, and she was concerned they had been overpaid.

After calling multiple times, she reached someone from Services Australia who looked up her account history.

“As far as we are concerned you are deceased,” the officer said.

Full story:- www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/22/you-are-deceased-services-australia-bungle-results-in-woman-losing-bank-accounts-and-pension-twice


Two people were jailed for welfare debts that Centrelink may have calculated unlawfully

The cases are probably wrongful convictions and prosecutors should facilitate appeals, a legal expert says

Two people were jailed – one of whom remains in prison – after Centrelink used unlawful calculations to accuse them of overclaiming welfare benefits, a watchdog has revealed.

Full story:- www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/07/jailed-people-centrelink-debt-potentially-unlawful-wrongful-conviction

[Denis-NFA]

We are in the hands of scary people.

[itsmylife08]

Upon my first return back to Australia in 2018 I called Centrelink to enquire about the status of my Medicare card as I was keen to avail of the PBS, like all good things, we must wait for our call to be answered, but I eventually got through.

I supplied the required details to get everything in motion, and a person on the other end said in a cheerful voice ok let's see what we've got after a bit of mumbling a female said hold on a moment but we've got you listed as passed on   rinse repeat details etc. 

I said ma'am with all due respect if I was dead how could I be talking to you right now? I don't know hold on I'll check your file again  ah I see she said we got returned mail from your former address and someone has written on them this person has passed on.

Aww for heaven's sake I'm alive and kicking don't you believe me, of course, I do she said laughing her head off. So after a bit more of the same nonsense I eventually got a new Medicare card sent out to me. 

It reminded me of the saying, I see said the blind man a hole in the wall, you're a liar said the dummy you can't see at all. Two dead men got up in the middle of the night to fight, the dummy cried for help and the cripple ran for the Guards. It's all above my pay scale figure it out guys, Chaos comes to mind...


Cheers Itsa 

[bear]

Jan 23, 2024 15:31:02 GMT 7 itsmylife08 said:

Upon my first return back to Australia in 2018 I called Centrelink to enquire about the status of my Medicare card as I was keen to avail of the PBS, like all good things, we must wait for our call to be answered, but I eventually got through.

Speaking of Medicare Cards....... Mine expired last October, however, there's an option if you've got Medicare linked to my Gov and have a trusted Australian address to have it sent to.  Simply apply for one from the options available.

Mine arrived a couple of weeks ago. So all good for another five years. Cheers 🐻

[itsmylife08]

Mine is good until 2027, not so bad but I might have to make a chicken run soon enough so that I keep my oar in so to speak.

Cheers Itsa, That's me on the right, a few years ago...