WELFARE RIGHTS CENTRE Centrelink and Clients Who

WELFARE RIGHTS CENTRE Centrelink and Clients

Who are we? Member of National Welfare Rights Network www. welfarerights. org. au Community Legal Centre Provide free, independent and confidential legal advice in relation to Centrelink matters.

What we do: • • Provide advice and information on Centrelink payments Mediate with Centrelink Assist clients to obtain relevant documentation Advocate for clients at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Centrelink Payments Many different types of payments: Disability Support Pension Newstart Allowance Age Pension Family Tax Benefit Youth Allowance etc.

Common Problems § § § Rejections of payment – how they occur Lack of evidence Not eligible Did not apply in time Incorrectly assessed by Centrelink jargon

Common Problems § § § Debts – how they occur Generally from an overpayment due to : Did not inform Centrelink of changes Incorrectly assessed Member of a couple Joint custody Incorrectly reported earnings ie Net not Gross

Debt Recovery Need to start repayments if possible Minimum repayments Garnishee orders Temporary write offs

How you can help… Have all your client’s details ready for us – name, customer reference number (CRN) and a contact phone number. Have as much information about the problem– what payment, payslips, any evidence etc.

How do we help What we can do to assist: Contact Centrelink if needed Legal advice Information on appeals process Advocate at Tribunals Refer to other services

What we cannot do Assist at Federal Court Prosecutions Advocate in shared care issues (FTB) Assist with applications (fill in forms) Tell someone what to say to get a payment

Recent Changes to Appeals 1 July 2015 Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) became the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Social Services and Child Support Division) Phone: 1800 228 333 Email: sscsdivision@aat. gov. au Web: www. aat. gov. au

Appeals Process § § Within Centrelink Back to Original Decision Maker (ODM) To Authorised Review Officer (ARO) § § § § Not all decisions can be appealed past ARO ABStudy and Isolated Children are examples Outside Centrelink Administrative Appeals Tribunal (SS&CSD) Administrative Appeals Tribunal (General Division) Federal Court

Housing Legal Clinic Free legal advice to homeless, at risk of homelessness or low income earners. Lawyers can advise, refer or occasionally act for clients. 7 clinics currently throughout the city and suburbs.

Where are we? City – Level 5, 97 Pirie Street Phone: 8223 1338 or 1800 246 287 (Rural only) Outreaches: • Port Adelaide – Uniting. Care Wesley Port Adelaide 58 Dale Street, Port Adelaide • Marion Road– Uniting. Care Wesley Bowden, Inner Southern Homlessness Service 730 Marion Road, Marion • Beulah Park – Uniting Communities Eastern Services Corner of Portrush Road and the Parade, Beulah Park • By appointment at other services

WRC Contact E-mail Nick Hoogland – nicholas@wrcsa. org. au General – volunteer@wrcsa. org. au Phone 8223 1338 or 1800 246 287 Fax 8232 5835