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Post by latindancer on Feb 24, 2012 15:34:10 GMT 7
Hi Banjo the day I left Bali I was informed by an officer there that he handed my case to the ARO for review and he would contact me shortly. Is this good or bad or maybe a maybe..... This is exactly what I was told on the 2nd December. I was told on the phone, after requesting an Authorized Review, that the ARO would contact me within 48 hours to get more information as this is what normally happened. Admittedly this was during the holiday season. I did not hear from Centrelink for a long time, and in fact had to finally hunt down the ARO. Two different officers I spoke to (whilst hunting down the ARO) said that "48 hours" was nonsense and that they had no idea why the other officer said this. That officer, by the way, was the person who made the decision to deem me non-resident in Australia, forcing me to return. Don't expect to be contacted. They take 2 weeks to reply to emails, if ever. You must keep on their backs at every turn. |
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Post by lynne on Feb 24, 2012 15:47:26 GMT 7
They are playing games. The day before my departure I had an email from Centrelink re my review and the ARO had try to telephone ... The letter I am still trying to interpret.....
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Post by lynne on Feb 24, 2012 16:59:31 GMT 7
Re reading about ARO interviews. Can anyone explain the difference. I did not request an ARO but it was handed to the ARO by the staff member dealing with my case.
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Post by Banjo on Feb 24, 2012 17:50:31 GMT 7
You can cancel any time, it's the first proper step in the review process.
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Post by lynne on Feb 24, 2012 20:26:38 GMT 7
Thought about it. Gives me a leverage.... you didn't ring me back. I am throwing a fish line out and writing a letter to them tonight and see what happens about my need to return to Indonesia.
I am just going to keep knocking on doors................... soon enough they may get tired of me .
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Post by spaceyone on Feb 25, 2012 8:43:47 GMT 7
Re reading about ARO interviews. Can anyone explain the difference. I did not request an ARO but it was handed to the ARO by the staff member dealing with my case. Cases are usually sent to an ARO when a decision has been made by Centrelink, and the client has decided to appeal it. Usually one would have to lodge an appeal by way of contacting the right phone number, or advising C/L in writing. In the case of you guys overseas, it is like they assumed that you would appeal, and so they were already prepared to hand your cases over to that level. However, I had wondered about that the other day. In ignoring your correspondences, maybe they are showing that nothing formal was listed, ensuring they are not bound by any of the relevant rules for same. In looking at C/L's appeal processes recently, I saw that there is a form you can download and lodge, formally requesting an appeal of any decision. Maybe Lynne and Latin Dancer need to do this, just to make sure it is happening, and the request is properly recorded. Centrelink are not above pretending to be doing something about your case, when they really are not, or are instead stalling you while they audit you. According to C/L's appeal information, an ARO is supposed to be the quickest way to have a decision looked at, and maybe reversed. It also claims the ARO will contact you, to hear your side of the story, and any new information relating to your case. They have failed to do so in both of our members cases, and therefore are in breach. I would jump to the next level, and contact the SSAT and/or the Ombudsman's Department. |
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Post by lynne on Feb 25, 2012 18:26:45 GMT 7
One for Banjo or any other member in the know. Before I write to ICL ARO officer I have just had a thought. Since 2002 I have been on the DSP Up to 2007 before they introduced the work capacity test my doctor had always signed me off unfit for work for 2 years, After the work capacity interview the officer classed me as having 20% mobility in my back. From that time I have never had another request from Centrelink for a medical review They have never given me a status on my disability permanent or otherwise. My may of thinking the less communication I had with ICL the better so have never asked. So with that in mind anyone out there know what my medical status would be?  ? I suffer Centrelink phobia.... hate talking to them ..... |
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Post by anotherdsp on Feb 26, 2012 7:59:54 GMT 7
yes lynne i dont like talking too them also, i still waiting to see what was said to the person who flew out last week,it also will depend how much time they have spent in an out of the country? i have been back about 4 weeks now an had enough i miss bali.
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Post by lynne on Feb 26, 2012 9:06:22 GMT 7
Hey anotherdsp. I am also from Bali. God love that banana republic - I am Sanur side of the island. I am drafting a letter today to some head honcho at ICL. Need to know who this person they classify as the secretary is.
Hmmmmmmmmm time spent in and out of the country........ I always caught the next flight out.
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Post by anotherdsp on Feb 26, 2012 10:10:32 GMT 7
to lynne, ''secretary'' of what? prob over the past 5 years i have averaged mayb 3 months a year. when i talked to the specialist he said i was ''not to bad compared to some other people''. an let me go for a month in 2 months time mayb.so are they stopping all the people going who have been away alot ,or everyone until july??i have been to scared to ring them!,then when i did i ran out of credit,once i sorted that out he had gone home.i was asked ffor a letter from my landlord stating that he his happy for me to stay there for the next year? so if we can prove residency an returnability of us as aust citizens i.e ties to aust how can they stop us?? so iam looking at 1month here to 6 weeks an that i suppose it should be ok to leave again.?? when i had phone interveiw he asked me alot abouts over there an i said i had none,i just rent a room when i get there an i go there for medical reasons.but it is all confusing,i have been ''grandfathered'' but these new rules are confusing an hard to know where we stand in all of this? are there people still flying in an out or are we all stuck here ??
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Post by anotherdsp on Feb 26, 2012 10:11:38 GMT 7
to lynne i am in the sth jimbaran
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Post by lynne on Feb 26, 2012 12:12:06 GMT 7
I am not sure even if know what they doing. Legislation seems to be changing every day. I do not have a permanent address in Australia. I am going to write to them tonight and quote some of the legislation's that seem to appear daily. I am in Darwin at the moment. NOt sure where my next stop is. But if ICL want a rental contract from me then they can whistle because I am pleading my case as homeless. They want me to live somewhere then they should be finding me a place. I will if I am forced place my name on the State Housing list here in Darwin.... wait years for that. There has to be a loophole somewhere, god knows the govt legislation's have so many holes in their buckets they can't carry water. I have a dependent child in Balii. not mine, I found her 9 years ago on the streets which centrelink is aware of. you need to quote in written correspondence mental anguish, insomnia, confusion of mind due to stress or even a veiled threat in the nicest way possible that will attract media coverage. Are we all stuck here. Interesting question given we must be the first batch to be called back. Keep hammering on their door I say. voice your opinion that they are discriminating against a minority. Given OAP can remain overseas so why not us. THAT IS DISCRIMINATION MY FRIEND
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Post by rowdy on Feb 26, 2012 13:22:49 GMT 7
I am not sure even if know what they doing. Legislation seems to be changing every day. I do not have a permanent address in Australia. I am going to write to them tonight and quote some of the legislation's that seem to appear daily. I am in Darwin at the moment. NOt sure where my next stop is. But if ICL want a rental contract from me then they can whistle because I am pleading my case as homeless. They want me to live somewhere then they should be finding me a place. I will if I am forced place my name on the State Housing list here in Darwin.... wait years for that. There has to be a loophole somewhere, god knows the govt legislation's have so many holes in their buckets they can't carry water. I have a dependent child in Balii. not mine, I found her 9 years ago on the streets which centrelink is aware of. you need to quote in written correspondence mental anguish, insomnia, confusion of mind due to stress or even a veiled threat in the nicest way possible that will attract media coverage. Are we all stuck here. Interesting question given we must be the first batch to be called back. Keep hammering on their door I say. voice your opinion that they are discriminating against a minority. Given OAP can remain overseas so why not us. THAT IS DISCRIMINATION MY FRIEND Lynne, I have read over your posts, and I very much sympathize with your situation. Kudos to you too for looking after a young girl who is not your own. The world would definitely be a better place if there were more 'Lynne's' on this planet. However, that being said, Centrelink really don't care one bit about your life in Bali and the fact that you have a dependent child over there is irrelevant. The test is, are you are resident of Australia as required by Section 94 of the SSAct. Section 7(1) of the SSAct gives a definition of what residence is. Ranting and raving about discrimination is not going to help you one bit when it comes to Centrelink. Look over decided cases in the AAT where residency was an issue. I am not trying to be nasty, but give you some helpful advice. ANY information you give Centrelink should be done with the sole purpose of satisfying the residence requirement. They have asked you to get a lease for 6 months, but you cant afford it - accepted. Think outside the box, search websites like domain.com and realestate.com, if you cant find anything you can afford, put it in writing (even a stat-dec) hand deliver it to Centrelink and keep a copy of course. Remember, residence it about what ties you to Australia, not what ties you to Indonesia. |
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Post by lynne on Feb 26, 2012 13:46:17 GMT 7
totally agree with your points rowdy. I wrote off a letter see what happens though I doubt I will get any sympathy. I have resigned myself to been here until July and as we speak a friend of mine living on a station out of ALice Springs rang to say I am welcome to stay with them until June/July FOC. My priority at the moment is keeping my daughters home base and life on an even keel, my monkeys in bananas. For me this is a huge relief not having to meet the day to day costs of living in Australia and struggling to support the other end as well. This was giving me sleepless nights plus I can now give ICL a permanent address but no rental contract... what happens if you find yourself on a park bench. Do you ask for a rental contract from the shire.
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Post by spaceyone on Feb 26, 2012 13:56:47 GMT 7
Hi Lynne
I would use the address near Alice Springs as your Australian residential address. Don't claim rent assistance, since you won't be paying it anyway.
It is illegal to claim rent assistance and not be living in the place, but to not claim it, and be away on holidays often, is not.
As long as your mail is kept for you, and not returned to sender, then it is your permanent residence when in Australia.
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? I suffer Centrelink phobia.... hate talking to them .....