Centrelink is watching!
#1
Centrelink is watching!
Received a letter today informing that our Family Tax benefit Part B could not be paid and Part A was only payable at the base rate, as records show we are stil overseas. We did go to the UK for a 3 week holiday at Christmas but arrived back in the country January 19th and had no idea that Centrelink had knowledge of this trip. A swift 'phone call to them revealed that our departure from the country was registered with them from the immigration department but our re-entry, apparently not. We were obliged to have informed them of our intentions although their system should have detected that we had returned to Aus. Happily, the matter was quickly resolved with payments switching back to the original amount. Can appreciate that this system is in place to prevent exploitation of assistance payments but had no idea you were expected to inform them of your intent to travel outside of Aus. and the length of your absence. Anyone else aware of this requirement, or is Big Brother just watching me?
#2
Re: Centrelink is watching!
i thought i'd read that on their website somewhere. better tell them me and DD are going for a month...
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: Centrelink is watching!
Received a letter today informing that our Family Tax benefit Part B could not be paid and Part A was only payable at the base rate, as records show we are stil overseas. We did go to the UK for a 3 week holiday at Christmas but arrived back in the country January 19th and had no idea that Centrelink had knowledge of this trip. A swift 'phone call to them revealed that our departure from the country was registered with them from the immigration department but our re-entry, apparently not. We were obliged to have informed them of our intentions although their system should have detected that we had returned to Aus. Happily, the matter was quickly resolved with payments switching back to the original amount. Can appreciate that this system is in place to prevent exploitation of assistance payments but had no idea you were expected to inform them of your intent to travel outside of Aus. and the length of your absence. Anyone else aware of this requirement, or is Big Brother just watching me?
Ive read on here before that your passport/immigration details are private, I laughed at the time ( it was yet another one of those amazingly dumb are you going to pay your debt threads ) anyway I thought yeah right bet in OZ they aint
I got a bill in 2008 for a error made in 2004, their error I might add, so they also backdate investigations.
#5
Re: Centrelink is watching!
Australian govt departments have amazingly good access to other departments info. ATO and Centerlink share info at the click of a few buttons, also bank interest details. My accountant has one click access through their websites to access all our banking details. My son forgot his interest for a tax return, and accountant said dont bother phoning him, its right here the ATO/Centerlink sites. Quick as a flash all his details.
Ive read on here before that your passport/immigration details are private, I laughed at the time ( it was yet another one of those amazingly dumb are you going to pay your debt threads ) anyway I thought yeah right bet in OZ they aint
I got a bill in 2008 for a error made in 2004, their error I might add, so they also backdate investigations.
Ive read on here before that your passport/immigration details are private, I laughed at the time ( it was yet another one of those amazingly dumb are you going to pay your debt threads ) anyway I thought yeah right bet in OZ they aint
I got a bill in 2008 for a error made in 2004, their error I might add, so they also backdate investigations.
#6
Re: Centrelink is watching!
yes, we had a letter like that saying if we didnt submit our tax return in a certain time we'd be fined thousands!!!!!! and it was for the year before we arrived, very odd. luckily a phone call sorted it.
#7
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: U K
Posts: 24
Re: Centrelink is watching!
Received a letter today informing that our Family Tax benefit Part B could not be paid and Part A was only payable at the base rate, as records show we are stil overseas. We did go to the UK for a 3 week holiday at Christmas but arrived back in the country January 19th and had no idea that Centrelink had knowledge of this trip. A swift 'phone call to them revealed that our departure from the country was registered with them from the immigration department but our re-entry, apparently not. We were obliged to have informed them of our intentions although their system should have detected that we had returned to Aus. Happily, the matter was quickly resolved with payments switching back to the original amount. Can appreciate that this system is in place to prevent exploitation of assistance payments but had no idea you were expected to inform them of your intent to travel outside of Aus. and the length of your absence. Anyone else aware of this requirement, or is Big Brother just watching me?
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Centrelink is watching!
The State Motor departments also have immediate access to your departure and arrival dates.
A lot of government data is shared between departments.
A lot of government data is shared between departments.
#10
Re: Centrelink is watching!
Does that mean anyone in the UK that claims family allowance/child benefit now has to inform the relevant authorities of their intentions to travel overseas? When did that come in?
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 2,201
Re: Centrelink is watching!
I do think it's a good idea to have joined-up thinking on such matters, so credit to them for that. I wonder if benefit fraud is less than in the UK? Also, it's great that in all instances a telephone call has resolved the matter. I find here that once you become a 'computer says "No"' case in the UK, you are buggered.
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Centrelink is watching!
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/need-to-report.htm
In Australia, the rules are:
- Family Tax Benefit (A) is restricted to the base rate when you and/or your child(ren) are temporarily outside Australia for more than 13 weeks.
- Family Tax Benefit (A) base rate payments are cancelled after a three year period and can only restart when you have returned to Australia and lodged a new Family Tax Benefit claim.
- Family Tax Benefit (B) ceases after 13 weeks of temporary absence
Obviously not the exactly the same software settings
#13
Re: Centrelink is watching!
thanks for that abcd, should still get it all then as we're only away for 4 or 5 weeks
#14
Re: Centrelink is watching!
I do think it's a good idea to have joined-up thinking on such matters, so credit to them for that. I wonder if benefit fraud is less than in the UK? Also, it's great that in all instances a telephone call has resolved the matter. I find here that once you become a 'computer says "No"' case in the UK, you are buggered.
#15
Re: Centrelink is watching!
Yes, if you leave the UK temporarily for more than eight weeks.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/need-to-report.htm
In Australia, the rules are:
Obviously not the exactly the same software settings
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/need-to-report.htm
In Australia, the rules are:
- Family Tax Benefit (A) is restricted to the base rate when you and/or your child(ren) are temporarily outside Australia for more than 13 weeks.
- Family Tax Benefit (A) base rate payments are cancelled after a three year period and can only restart when you have returned to Australia and lodged a new Family Tax Benefit claim.
- Family Tax Benefit (B) ceases after 13 weeks of temporary absence
Obviously not the exactly the same software settings