2 Friends who are on the road full time have just been re-access by centrelink . Their asset test were higher because they did not own a home , But because they are claiming rent assistance they are counting their caravan has their home and are being access has a home owner . My be wise to do your sum before claiming rent assistance
Big Gorilla said
08:59 AM Sep 15, 2014
That's a nasty trick. Could leave some GNs with a reduced income ...
woolman said
10:45 AM Sep 15, 2014
The Centrelink rules say you have the option to be a home owner or have your home declared an asset as a non home owner.
The problem is if Centrelink decide you are a home owner then there is nothing you can do about it. I have been all the way through to SSAT and failed. The reason the Centrelink FIO officer claimed I requested to become recorded as a home owner. The interesting thing was I had my financial adviser present at this meeting and he wrote a Statuary Declaration advising it was the FIO that was insisting I was a home owner not me. Legislation does not allow the record of a Centrelink officer to be challenged. The member hearing my case agreed with me but said she could do nothing. Centrelink officers record is to be deemed accurate by legislation regardless of any other facts presented.
I am glad I live in a democratic country.
Neil
deverall11 said
10:58 AM Sep 15, 2014
It is pathetic, shameful and sad how governments in this country treat pensioners. We are not thieves. Those who are 1/3 our age and are on Centrelink benefits with no plans to get a job ARE the thieves.
Larry
glennt said
12:52 PM Sep 15, 2014
HEY you vote,,,???
Dougwe said
12:56 PM Sep 15, 2014
Vote 7 for Billeeeeeee. That's 1 vote for each e.
Phil C said
02:46 PM Sep 15, 2014
I disagree with some of the comments regarding centrelink having the final say. Under the Social Security Act ALL desisions made by centrelink can and should be challenged, firstly via the local ARO then Social Security Court of Appeal, then the high court if needed.
As far as we are concerned we have equal shares in our caravan and personal chattles that put us well under the limit, I have also insisted that we are NON home owners.
The social security act is full of potholes and loopholes despite the govt trying to tighten them up. ALL your records, documents made by centrelink offices etc are available under freedom of information.
Every time a centrelink officer makes notes about you, you are entitled to read those notes and make corrections if they are wrong (FOI). Just make sure they are accurate and suitable. I have had a few centrelink offices receive a kick in the bum due to non cooperation in this matter, if you stick to your guns and run it up the totem pole you will get a good hearing, if you are in the right.
When I worked for centrelink during the early 2000s EVERY entry that I made in the ISIS system was checked (we called it QAL) and made to be corrected if needed before it hit the system.
Take care and dont let the B#$^ards get at you.
BTW. If you receive unfair, rude or downright objectionable treatment from any centrelink officer, get the officer's details (on the name badge and letters) go to the complaints line and lodge a formal complaint, that scares the hell out of them and a record is made of the complaint for all to see and you get treated a bit better. Conversely if you chuck a wobbly and carry on like a pork chop, there will be an equally permanent record on your record..
-- Edited by Phil C on Monday 15th of September 2014 02:52:31 PM
Baz421 said
03:09 PM Sep 15, 2014
Phil C wrote:
I disagree with some of the comments regarding centrelink having the final say. Under the Social Security Act ALL desisions made by centrelink can and should be challenged, firstly via the local ARO then Social Security Court of Appeal, then the high court if needed.
As far as we are concerned we have equal shares in our caravan and personal chattles that put us well under the limit, I have also insisted that we are NON home owners.
The social security act is full of potholes and loopholes despite the govt trying to tighten them up. ALL your records, documents made by centrelink offices etc are available under freedom of information.
Every time a centrelink officer makes notes about you, you are entitled to read those notes and make corrections if they are wrong (FOI). Just make sure they are accurate and suitable. I have had a few centrelink offices receive a kick in the bum due to non cooperation in this matter, if you stick to your guns and run it up the totem pole you will get a good hearing, if you are in the right.
When I worked for centrelink during the early 2000s EVERY entry that I made in the ISIS system was checked (we called it QAL) and made to be corrected if needed before it hit the system.
Take care and dont let the B#$^ards get at you.
BTW. If you receive unfair, rude or downright objectionable treatment from any centrelink officer, get the officer's details (on the name badge and letters) go to the complaints line and lodge a formal complaint, that scares the hell out of them and a record is made of the complaint for all to see and you get treated a bit better. Conversely if you chuck a wobbly and carry on like a pork chop, there will be an equally permanent record on your record..
-- Edited by Phil C on Monday 15th of September 2014 02:52:31 PM
Thanks Phil. Good post VERY informative.
Gerty Dancer said
07:11 PM Sep 15, 2014
As far as we know, you always have the right to appeal.
woolman said
11:29 AM Sep 16, 2014
Done all the appeals but took 6 years and failed on technicalities. The authorised review officer, after being advised twice to remove himself from my case, was demoted, at which point I made some progress. I found the vast majority of Centrelink staff very helpful although nervous. I found out that I was listed violent and aggressive on my file. I now have , at last count, 8 statements disagreeing and countering that statement. I have always believed that the staff members you meet face to face are not the cause of any issues you may have, they are just the messenger. My solution was to hang up from the Authorised review officer when he began to abuse me and ring straight through to complaints. Takes a while but it has eventually removed him from the Centrelink system. Staff them selves had a less than complementary name they called him and are now pleased that I persisted in assisting to have him removed. Still never helped my SSAT appeal though and the right to have his statements removed from my record.
Neil
Cloak said
04:57 PM Sep 16, 2014
I've never had dealings with Centrelink, is this what I have to look forward to? Hardcore bureaucracy??
Not quite retired yet you see and may never if it's a struggle like this.
Bas + Eve said
08:37 PM Sep 16, 2014
Lazy arse boffins have nothing better to do than pick on some poor Bas***d who has worked all of his life to have something at the end. Bloody politicians who are worth millions $$ all are entitled to a bloody parliamentary pension that look like telephone numbers indexed for the rest of their miserable existences. It's all BS I reckon. Work hard get penalised, don't work and be supported!! Go figure.
Santa said
09:52 AM Sep 17, 2014
All of our experience with Centrelink has been very positive.
They have been prompt, courteous, helpful and very professional.
Clare46 said
10:35 AM Sep 17, 2014
Santa wrote:
All of our experience with Centrelink has been very positive.
They have been prompt, courteous, helpful and very professional.
Santa
I have to agree with you
Baz421 said
10:50 AM Sep 17, 2014
Clare46 wrote:
Santa wrote:
All of our experience with Centrelink has been very positive.
They have been prompt, courteous, helpful and very professional.
Santa
I have to agree with you
Same here when dealing with my Father's affairs and Mother in Law's affairs.
Radar said
12:33 PM Sep 17, 2014
Hi All
I personally hold them in high in customer service. Courteous, helpful being a new experience.
I went in not expecting to much and come out with some pocket money and a couple of entitlements.
Phil C said
05:01 PM Sep 18, 2014
woolman wrote:
Done all the appeals but took 6 years and failed on technicalities. The authorised review officer, after being advised twice to remove himself from my case, was demoted, at which point I made some progress. I found the vast majority of Centrelink staff very helpful although nervous. I found out that I was listed violent and aggressive on my file. I now have , at last count, 8 statements disagreeing and countering that statement. I have always believed that the staff members you meet face to face are not the cause of any issues you may have, they are just the messenger. My solution was to hang up from the Authorised review officer when he began to abuse me and ring straight through to complaints. Takes a while but it has eventually removed him from the Centrelink system. Staff them selves had a less than complementary name they called him and are now pleased that I persisted in assisting to have him removed. Still never helped my SSAT appeal though and the right to have his statements removed from my record.
Neil
Hi Neil
When I was working at the link the next step after the SSAT was the high court of Australia. Dont know if thats open anymore as i believe it was a free appeal. Sounds like somebody has a real large bur up their backside, If you get a bad nasty on your screen (I think its called a EP36) Its hells own job to have it removed, from memory the officer who placed it there is the only one who can remove it.. (this ALL may be old information)
Thats terrible the ARO was so rude, we complained when an officer made an appointment with us and then told us she was too busy to see us... Made my blood boil that one. That person got some serious sh## chucked at her.
Anyway its the system we have all got to endure, may be broken and slightly insane but it sometimes works to our benifit.
2 Friends who are on the road full time have just been re-access by centrelink . Their asset test were higher because they did not own a home , But because they are claiming rent assistance they are counting their caravan has their home and are being access has a home owner . My be wise to do your sum before claiming rent assistance
That's a nasty trick. Could leave some GNs with a reduced income ...
The Centrelink rules say you have the option to be a home owner or have your home declared an asset as a non home owner.
The problem is if Centrelink decide you are a home owner then there is nothing you can do about it. I have been all the way through to SSAT and failed. The reason the Centrelink FIO officer claimed I requested to become recorded as a home owner. The interesting thing was I had my financial adviser present at this meeting and he wrote a Statuary Declaration advising it was the FIO that was insisting I was a home owner not me. Legislation does not allow the record of a Centrelink officer to be challenged. The member hearing my case agreed with me but said she could do nothing. Centrelink officers record is to be deemed accurate by legislation regardless of any other facts presented.
I am glad I live in a democratic country.
Neil
Larry
HEY you vote,,,???
I disagree with some of the comments regarding centrelink having the final say. Under the Social Security Act ALL desisions made by centrelink can and should be challenged, firstly via the local ARO then Social Security Court of Appeal, then the high court if needed.
As far as we are concerned we have equal shares in our caravan and personal chattles that put us well under the limit, I have also insisted that we are NON home owners.
The social security act is full of potholes and loopholes despite the govt trying to tighten them up. ALL your records, documents made by centrelink offices etc are available under freedom of information.
Every time a centrelink officer makes notes about you, you are entitled to read those notes and make corrections if they are wrong (FOI). Just make sure they are accurate and suitable. I have had a few centrelink offices receive a kick in the bum due to non cooperation in this matter, if you stick to your guns and run it up the totem pole you will get a good hearing, if you are in the right.
When I worked for centrelink during the early 2000s EVERY entry that I made in the ISIS system was checked (we called it QAL) and made to be corrected if needed before it hit the system.
Take care and dont let the B#$^ards get at you.
BTW. If you receive unfair, rude or downright objectionable treatment from any centrelink officer, get the officer's details (on the name badge and letters) go to the complaints line and lodge a formal complaint, that scares the hell out of them and a record is made of the complaint for all to see and you get treated a bit better. Conversely if you chuck a wobbly and carry on like a pork chop, there will be an equally permanent record on your record..
-- Edited by Phil C on Monday 15th of September 2014 02:52:31 PM
Thanks Phil. Good post VERY informative.
Done all the appeals but took 6 years and failed on technicalities. The authorised review officer, after being advised twice to remove himself from my case, was demoted, at which point I made some progress. I found the vast majority of Centrelink staff very helpful although nervous. I found out that I was listed violent and aggressive on my file. I now have , at last count, 8 statements disagreeing and countering that statement. I have always believed that the staff members you meet face to face are not the cause of any issues you may have, they are just the messenger. My solution was to hang up from the Authorised review officer when he began to abuse me and ring straight through to complaints. Takes a while but it has eventually removed him from the Centrelink system. Staff them selves had a less than complementary name they called him and are now pleased that I persisted in assisting to have him removed. Still never helped my SSAT appeal though and the right to have his statements removed from my record.
Neil
Not quite retired yet you see and may never if it's a struggle like this.
All of our experience with Centrelink has been very positive.
They have been prompt, courteous, helpful and very professional.
Santa
I have to agree with you
Same here when dealing with my Father's affairs and Mother in Law's affairs.
Hi All
I personally hold them in high in customer service. Courteous, helpful being a new experience.
I went in not expecting to much and come out with some pocket money and a couple of entitlements.
Hi Neil
When I was working at the link the next step after the SSAT was the high court of Australia. Dont know if thats open anymore as i believe it was a free appeal. Sounds like somebody has a real large bur up their backside, If you get a bad nasty on your screen (I think its called a EP36) Its hells own job to have it removed, from memory the officer who placed it there is the only one who can remove it.. (this ALL may be old information)
Thats terrible the ARO was so rude, we complained when an officer made an appointment with us and then told us she was too busy to see us... Made my blood boil that one. That person got some serious sh## chucked at her.
Anyway its the system we have all got to endure, may be broken and slightly insane but it sometimes works to our benifit.
Take care and safe travels