Dorothy

Maybe I have just been lucky with Centrelink, but the times I've had dealings with them it's been relatively quick and helpful.

moneypenny20

Us too. Only issue I've had with them was when my eldest tried to renew her Medical Concession Card. In the previous year she earned $5 more than the limit so was refused and had to pay for her Epilepsy meds which are not cheap. Obviously there has to be a cut off but it was just a bit frustrating.

Beoz

Wife had a few issues with over checking. They wanted this document and that document. A bit frustrating but it's a system and a process.

Beoz

Please do share. This should be interesting.

Dorothy

Sometimes the system can feel frustrating. i have been on both sides of it and do understand the frustration of not understanding how little room low level government workers have for special requests or if asked to do something "not on their JDF".

Beoz

It's not just government. Private is the same. It's the way we live these days. Everything has a process and is system driven and something out of the norm confuses the process and system.

the troubadour

Why would you find the breaching of people too often without reason interesting? You do appear to be sadistic personality type deep down. Only the well heeled deserve consideration when faced with accountability but never truly held to account. A sad world indeed.

moneypenny20

That's not what he said and you know it.

Beoz

I asked for evidence of what you claim. If you made that statement up it's fine to retract it. We all make errors. No need for the name calling.

tomar

spouse of scouse

Centrelink are shockingly inefficient. I don't have a problem with the amount of detailed information you need to provide, but I do have a problem when they continually say they haven't received this, that or the other when you know you've provided it, your online account says you've provided it, and the case officer you've seen also says you've provided it.

This happened last year when my husband applied for his partial Oz age pension. We provided 32 pages of documents including bank statements, tax documents, investment documents blah blah blah. Then we provided them again, and again, and again (yes, 4 times). The process is supposed to take 8 weeks. It took 6 months.

the troubadour

No errors as I would have thought you would be very aware of what I refer to. The breaching of people especially New Start claimants is at record numbers. Too often for no sufficient reason or in error. To attempt to reconnect is some business, as some have related on this thread with dealings with Centre Link for likely other entitlements than New Start. But that is one side, the ever growing inefficiency for reasons I have clearly are notorious. So many folk attempting to navigate the system are forced to seek help outside, especially those from non English or English as a second language background. This was not the case some years back but a result of declining service due to government indifference (at best) Stated Name calling? I've had to put up with your insinuations in place of reasoned debate for years. So no high ground antics please.

Beoz

Can you provide evidence of these record numbers?

moneypenny20

Hope she's entitled to a card. My daughter is now living in the UK and only has to pay the standard prescription charge which is a huge bonus.

the troubadour

Evidence? Well the ever increasing number of homeless on our city streets. Certainly the case in Perth anyway. But some' insight knowledge' also helps. The vast increase of people seeking support from psychologists and non profit agencies for help with Centre Link is taking up much time would should be used for other things. The difficulties to obtain Disability Support payment for those with even severe illness is both stressful for the applicant and time consuming for the advocate. A quick search will show numbers breached are at record levels. AS I wrote previously, those hit are New start claimants and those in need of disability payments in particularly. Those seeking Aged Pensions and Child benefit entitlements will most likely not be more than inconvenienced through the bureaucratic process rather than vilified or suspended of payment which can lead to grave consequences.