Despite the abolishment of the notorious Robodebt scheme, Centrelink's debt recovery practices continue to stir distress among recipients, including pensioners, carers, and parents receiving childcare assistance.

Advocates for welfare recipients report that Centrelink's current debt recovery approach is lacking in several aspects.

Recipients often receive ‘semi-threatening’ debt notices that provide insufficient information about the calculation of the debt amount.

People who speak up for welfare recipients say that Centrelink's way of trying to collect debts is causing more stress because they send threatening letters with not enough information, just like they did during the Robodebt program. Image by Tumisu from pixabay

They claim that Centrelink's debt recovery process is still causing additional stress, reminiscent of the Robodebt scheme.

The income-averaging method used to determine debts in the scheme was heavily criticised during the recent royal commission, which referred to it as an ‘extraordinary saga’ marked by ‘venality, incompetence, and cowardice’.

Although the Robodebt program was terminated in 2019, advocates for welfare recipients strongly emphasise the need for improvements to Centrelink's current processes.

The Welfare Rights Centre's Chief Executive Officer, Katherine Boyle, announced on ABC Radio Sydney that while there had been improvements, the current approach still feels eerily familiar.

'Robodebt is dead, but people feel like they have a Robodebt. That feeling of being chased, persecuted, and confused—that hasn't actually changed.' said Ms Boyle.

Here's an example of how these issues can feel like a frustrating puzzle.

Meredith Davies' husband is a recipient of a disability support pension.

About a year ago, the couple received a letter stating he had an overpayment of over $600, which would be deducted from future payments.

However, even after twelve months and several phone calls, including seeking help from their local federal MP's office, they still haven't received any further information.

Ms Davies said, ‘If they can't give you a good reason for the overpayment, they shouldn't be asking for it.’

Likewise, an 88-year-old carer of a Parkinson's patient was nearly stripped of his carer allowance because of a failure to communicate clearly with Centrelink about his wife's hospitalisation dates.

It is essential that Centrelink not only makes changes to its debt letters but also takes concrete steps to rebuild trust and ensure that vulnerable citizens are served with the dignity and respect they deserve. Image from shutterstock

These are just two of many frustrating stories we’ve heard of good people mismanaged by the system they rely on most.

And, with 1.6 million debts raised in 2021-2022 by Services Australia, there are be countless stories like these.

In response to these struggles, Centrelink promises changes to its debt letters, including providing more detailed insights regarding the origin of these debts.

A spokesperson stated, ‘We're making further changes to include more detailed information on how a debt occurred…We're sorry to hear people are having trouble reaching us.’

But will the changes go far enough for those that depend on these services?

Ms Boyle certainly has her doubts. She states, 'The problems are so systemic, so deep, so long term that it's going to take a while to fix Centrelink, so it's actually serving the people as it should.'

Key Takeaways

• Welfare recipients are reportedly still experiencing stress and confusion due to Centrelink's debt recovery processes, even after the controversial 'Robodebt' scheme was dumped.
  
• There have been complaints that debt notices do not provide enough information about how the owed sums were calculated and use 'semi-threatening' language.
  
• Some improvements have been made, according to Welfare Rights Centre CEO Katherine Boyle, but there are continuing issues with the way Centrelink pursues debts.
  
• Services Australia is reportedly making changes to improve debt letters, aiming to provide more detailed information on how a debt occurred.

So, even though Robodebt may be gone, it’s clear there’s still much work to do.

We would love to hear your opinions on the story shared above. What improvements do you think are necessary to alleviate stress and confusion for the recipients? Feel free to share your thoughts!

 

[Luckyus]

Despite the abolishment of the notorious Robodebt scheme, Centrelink's debt recovery practices continue to stir distress among recipients, including pensioners, carers, and parents receiving childcare assistance.

Advocates for welfare recipients report that Centrelink's current debt recovery approach is lacking in several aspects.

Recipients often receive ‘semi-threatening’ debt notices that provide insufficient information about the calculation of the debt amount.

View attachment 25522

People who speak up for welfare recipients say that Centrelink's way of trying to collect debts is causing more stress because they send threatening letters with not enough information, just like they did during the Robodebt program. Image by Tumisu from pixabay

They claim that Centrelink's debt recovery process is still causing additional stress, reminiscent of the Robodebt scheme.

The income-averaging method used to determine debts in the scheme was heavily criticised during the recent royal commission, which referred to it as an ‘extraordinary saga’ marked by ‘venality, incompetence, and cowardice’.

Although the Robodebt program was terminated in 2019, advocates for welfare recipients strongly emphasise the need for improvements to Centrelink's current processes.

The Welfare Rights Centre's Chief Executive Officer, Katherine Boyle, announced on ABC Radio Sydney that while there had been improvements, the current approach still feels eerily familiar.

'Robodebt is dead, but people feel like they have a Robodebt. That feeling of being chased, persecuted, and confused—that hasn't actually changed.' said Ms Boyle.

Here's an example of how these issues can feel like a frustrating puzzle.

Meredith Davies' husband is a recipient of a disability support pension.

About a year ago, the couple received a letter stating he had an overpayment of over $600, which would be deducted from future payments.

However, even after twelve months and several phone calls, including seeking help from their local federal MP's office, they still haven't received any further information.

Ms Davies said, ‘If they can't give you a good reason for the overpayment, they shouldn't be asking for it.’

Likewise, an 88-year-old carer of a Parkinson's patient was nearly stripped of his carer allowance because of a failure to communicate clearly with Centrelink about his wife's hospitalisation dates.

View attachment 25523

It is essential that Centrelink not only makes changes to its debt letters but also takes concrete steps to rebuild trust and ensure that vulnerable citizens are served with the dignity and respect they deserve. Image from shutterstock

These are just two of many frustrating stories we’ve heard of good people mismanaged by the system they rely on most.

And, with 1.6 million debts raised in 2021-2022 by Services Australia, there are be countless stories like these.

In response to these struggles, Centrelink promises changes to its debt letters, including providing more detailed insights regarding the origin of these debts.

A spokesperson stated, ‘We're making further changes to include more detailed information on how a debt occurred…We're sorry to hear people are having trouble reaching us.’

But will the changes go far enough for those that depend on these services?

Ms Boyle certainly has her doubts. She states, 'The problems are so systemic, so deep, so long term that it's going to take a while to fix Centrelink, so it's actually serving the people as it should.'

Key Takeaways

• Welfare recipients are reportedly still experiencing stress and confusion due to Centrelink's debt recovery processes, even after the controversial 'Robodebt' scheme was dumped.
• There have been complaints that debt notices do not provide enough information about how the owed sums were calculated and use 'semi-threatening' language.
• Some improvements have been made, according to Welfare Rights Centre CEO Katherine Boyle, but there are continuing issues with the way Centrelink pursues debts.
• Services Australia is reportedly making changes to improve debt letters, aiming to provide more detailed information on how a debt occurred.

So, even though Robodebt may be gone, it’s clear there’s still much work to do.

We would love to hear your opinions on the story shared above. What improvements do you think are necessary to alleviate stress and confusion for the recipients? Feel free to share your thoughts!

I feel sorry for anyone unfotunate enough to caught up in the ponderous bollocks of bureacracy, in this you can't blame politicians for this state, but you can if the lazy prats don't do anything about it.

 

[Nancy Watts]

Despite the abolishment of the notorious Robodebt scheme, Centrelink's debt recovery practices continue to stir distress among recipients, including pensioners, carers, and parents receiving childcare assistance.

Advocates for welfare recipients report that Centrelink's current debt recovery approach is lacking in several aspects.

Recipients often receive ‘semi-threatening’ debt notices that provide insufficient information about the calculation of the debt amount.

View attachment 25522

People who speak up for welfare recipients say that Centrelink's way of trying to collect debts is causing more stress because they send threatening letters with not enough information, just like they did during the Robodebt program. Image by Tumisu from pixabay

They claim that Centrelink's debt recovery process is still causing additional stress, reminiscent of the Robodebt scheme.

The income-averaging method used to determine debts in the scheme was heavily criticised during the recent royal commission, which referred to it as an ‘extraordinary saga’ marked by ‘venality, incompetence, and cowardice’.

Although the Robodebt program was terminated in 2019, advocates for welfare recipients strongly emphasise the need for improvements to Centrelink's current processes.

The Welfare Rights Centre's Chief Executive Officer, Katherine Boyle, announced on ABC Radio Sydney that while there had been improvements, the current approach still feels eerily familiar.

'Robodebt is dead, but people feel like they have a Robodebt. That feeling of being chased, persecuted, and confused—that hasn't actually changed.' said Ms Boyle.

Here's an example of how these issues can feel like a frustrating puzzle.

Meredith Davies' husband is a recipient of a disability support pension.

About a year ago, the couple received a letter stating he had an overpayment of over $600, which would be deducted from future payments.

However, even after twelve months and several phone calls, including seeking help from their local federal MP's office, they still haven't received any further information.

Ms Davies said, ‘If they can't give you a good reason for the overpayment, they shouldn't be asking for it.’

Likewise, an 88-year-old carer of a Parkinson's patient was nearly stripped of his carer allowance because of a failure to communicate clearly with Centrelink about his wife's hospitalisation dates.

View attachment 25523

It is essential that Centrelink not only makes changes to its debt letters but also takes concrete steps to rebuild trust and ensure that vulnerable citizens are served with the dignity and respect they deserve. Image from shutterstock

These are just two of many frustrating stories we’ve heard of good people mismanaged by the system they rely on most.

And, with 1.6 million debts raised in 2021-2022 by Services Australia, there are be countless stories like these.

In response to these struggles, Centrelink promises changes to its debt letters, including providing more detailed insights regarding the origin of these debts.

A spokesperson stated, ‘We're making further changes to include more detailed information on how a debt occurred…We're sorry to hear people are having trouble reaching us.’

But will the changes go far enough for those that depend on these services?

Ms Boyle certainly has her doubts. She states, 'The problems are so systemic, so deep, so long term that it's going to take a while to fix Centrelink, so it's actually serving the people as it should.'

Key Takeaways

• Welfare recipients are reportedly still experiencing stress and confusion due to Centrelink's debt recovery processes, even after the controversial 'Robodebt' scheme was dumped.
• There have been complaints that debt notices do not provide enough information about how the owed sums were calculated and use 'semi-threatening' language.
• Some improvements have been made, according to Welfare Rights Centre CEO Katherine Boyle, but there are continuing issues with the way Centrelink pursues debts.
• Services Australia is reportedly making changes to improve debt letters, aiming to provide more detailed information on how a debt occurred.

So, even though Robodebt may be gone, it’s clear there’s still much work to do.

We would love to hear your opinions on the story shared above. What improvements do you think are necessary to alleviate stress and confusion for the recipients? Feel free to share your thoughts!

 

[Nancy Watts]

Despite the abolishment of the notorious robo debt Mr Morrison should be held accountable for all this as he was our prime minister and he was the one that would have given the ok to be set up at the time of the robo debt happening soo there for i feel that mr Morrison should repay every cent that he recovered from his victims and it should be given back to the people that has suffered under neath his hands with interest,Morrison has caused a lot of heart aches and trauma exspecially to the families who has had a loved one suicide over this robo debt,For an instant if Center link had over payed some one they will recover the amount of money a person owes them and deduct from your pay ,so now it’s in reverse that Center link owes money to people and trying to cover it up by not paying the victims that has and still is suffering thru the robo debt scheme,It’s blindingly clear to see that Morrison knew and was aware of what exactly was going to happen and all he thought was about filling up his pockets,Shame on you Morrison,,people are still suffering whilst you and your family are enjoying holidays and not given a dam about no body,Royal Commission should hold Morrison and all others that were aware of what was going to happen accountable so there for they need to repay these people back as it’s the right thing to do,Morrison has already been exposed that he is liable for this robo debt,He is living like a king whilst others that are owed this money are living in hell not on Come on Morrison Pay Up or garnish the money he owes to all these people from his bank account and I’m sure he can afford to pay every one ,,Mr Albanese should make sure that it is going to happen and that no one is going to be left behind like he promised,Thank You

 

[MaggieMay1948]

Despite the abolishment of the notorious Robodebt scheme, Centrelink's debt recovery practices continue to stir distress among recipients, including pensioners, carers, and parents receiving childcare assistance.

Advocates for welfare recipients report that Centrelink's current debt recovery approach is lacking in several aspects.

Recipients often receive ‘semi-threatening’ debt notices that provide insufficient information about the calculation of the debt amount.

View attachment 25522

People who speak up for welfare recipients say that Centrelink's way of trying to collect debts is causing more stress because they send threatening letters with not enough information, just like they did during the Robodebt program. Image by Tumisu from pixabay

They claim that Centrelink's debt recovery process is still causing additional stress, reminiscent of the Robodebt scheme.

The income-averaging method used to determine debts in the scheme was heavily criticised during the recent royal commission, which referred to it as an ‘extraordinary saga’ marked by ‘venality, incompetence, and cowardice’.

Although the Robodebt program was terminated in 2019, advocates for welfare recipients strongly emphasise the need for improvements to Centrelink's current processes.

The Welfare Rights Centre's Chief Executive Officer, Katherine Boyle, announced on ABC Radio Sydney that while there had been improvements, the current approach still feels eerily familiar.

'Robodebt is dead, but people feel like they have a Robodebt. That feeling of being chased, persecuted, and confused—that hasn't actually changed.' said Ms Boyle.

Here's an example of how these issues can feel like a frustrating puzzle.

Meredith Davies' husband is a recipient of a disability support pension.

About a year ago, the couple received a letter stating he had an overpayment of over $600, which would be deducted from future payments.

However, even after twelve months and several phone calls, including seeking help from their local federal MP's office, they still haven't received any further information.

Ms Davies said, ‘If they can't give you a good reason for the overpayment, they shouldn't be asking for it.’

Likewise, an 88-year-old carer of a Parkinson's patient was nearly stripped of his carer allowance because of a failure to communicate clearly with Centrelink about his wife's hospitalisation dates.

View attachment 25523

It is essential that Centrelink not only makes changes to its debt letters but also takes concrete steps to rebuild trust and ensure that vulnerable citizens are served with the dignity and respect they deserve. Image from shutterstock

These are just two of many frustrating stories we’ve heard of good people mismanaged by the system they rely on most.

And, with 1.6 million debts raised in 2021-2022 by Services Australia, there are be countless stories like these.

In response to these struggles, Centrelink promises changes to its debt letters, including providing more detailed insights regarding the origin of these debts.

A spokesperson stated, ‘We're making further changes to include more detailed information on how a debt occurred…We're sorry to hear people are having trouble reaching us.’

But will the changes go far enough for those that depend on these services?

Ms Boyle certainly has her doubts. She states, 'The problems are so systemic, so deep, so long term that it's going to take a while to fix Centrelink, so it's actually serving the people as it should.'

Key Takeaways

• Welfare recipients are reportedly still experiencing stress and confusion due to Centrelink's debt recovery processes, even after the controversial 'Robodebt' scheme was dumped.
• There have been complaints that debt notices do not provide enough information about how the owed sums were calculated and use 'semi-threatening' language.
• Some improvements have been made, according to Welfare Rights Centre CEO Katherine Boyle, but there are continuing issues with the way Centrelink pursues debts.
• Services Australia is reportedly making changes to improve debt letters, aiming to provide more detailed information on how a debt occurred.

So, even though Robodebt may be gone, it’s clear there’s still much work to do.

We would love to hear your opinions on the story shared above. What improvements do you think are necessary to alleviate stress and confusion for the recipients? Feel free to share your thoughts!

If it were me, I would get a pro bono lawyer to write a letter advising you will not be paying until they a human being , and not a computer explained in detail sxactly how the debt occurred and was calculated.

I would also advise they can take me to court if they wish.

Put the onus on them to prove their case.

 

[baclo]

Despite the abolishment of the notorious Robodebt scheme, Centrelink's debt recovery practices continue to stir distress among recipients, including pensioners, carers, and parents receiving childcare assistance.

Advocates for welfare recipients report that Centrelink's current debt recovery approach is lacking in several aspects.

Recipients often receive ‘semi-threatening’ debt notices that provide insufficient information about the calculation of the debt amount.

View attachment 25522

People who speak up for welfare recipients say that Centrelink's way of trying to collect debts is causing more stress because they send threatening letters with not enough information, just like they did during the Robodebt program. Image by Tumisu from pixabay

They claim that Centrelink's debt recovery process is still causing additional stress, reminiscent of the Robodebt scheme.

The income-averaging method used to determine debts in the scheme was heavily criticised during the recent royal commission, which referred to it as an ‘extraordinary saga’ marked by ‘venality, incompetence, and cowardice’.

Although the Robodebt program was terminated in 2019, advocates for welfare recipients strongly emphasise the need for improvements to Centrelink's current processes.

The Welfare Rights Centre's Chief Executive Officer, Katherine Boyle, announced on ABC Radio Sydney that while there had been improvements, the current approach still feels eerily familiar.

'Robodebt is dead, but people feel like they have a Robodebt. That feeling of being chased, persecuted, and confused—that hasn't actually changed.' said Ms Boyle.

Here's an example of how these issues can feel like a frustrating puzzle.

Meredith Davies' husband is a recipient of a disability support pension.

About a year ago, the couple received a letter stating he had an overpayment of over $600, which would be deducted from future payments.

However, even after twelve months and several phone calls, including seeking help from their local federal MP's office, they still haven't received any further information.

Ms Davies said, ‘If they can't give you a good reason for the overpayment, they shouldn't be asking for it.’

Likewise, an 88-year-old carer of a Parkinson's patient was nearly stripped of his carer allowance because of a failure to communicate clearly with Centrelink about his wife's hospitalisation dates.

View attachment 25523

It is essential that Centrelink not only makes changes to its debt letters but also takes concrete steps to rebuild trust and ensure that vulnerable citizens are served with the dignity and respect they deserve. Image from shutterstock

These are just two of many frustrating stories we’ve heard of good people mismanaged by the system they rely on most.

And, with 1.6 million debts raised in 2021-2022 by Services Australia, there are be countless stories like these.

In response to these struggles, Centrelink promises changes to its debt letters, including providing more detailed insights regarding the origin of these debts.

A spokesperson stated, ‘We're making further changes to include more detailed information on how a debt occurred…We're sorry to hear people are having trouble reaching us.’

But will the changes go far enough for those that depend on these services?

Ms Boyle certainly has her doubts. She states, 'The problems are so systemic, so deep, so long term that it's going to take a while to fix Centrelink, so it's actually serving the people as it should.'

Key Takeaways

• Welfare recipients are reportedly still experiencing stress and confusion due to Centrelink's debt recovery processes, even after the controversial 'Robodebt' scheme was dumped.
• There have been complaints that debt notices do not provide enough information about how the owed sums were calculated and use 'semi-threatening' language.
• Some improvements have been made, according to Welfare Rights Centre CEO Katherine Boyle, but there are continuing issues with the way Centrelink pursues debts.
• Services Australia is reportedly making changes to improve debt letters, aiming to provide more detailed information on how a debt occurred.

So, even though Robodebt may be gone, it’s clear there’s still much work to do.

We would love to hear your opinions on the story shared above. What improvements do you think are necessary to alleviate stress and confusion for the recipients? Feel free to share your thoughts!

Hi, I also have been a victim of the robo debt. They did not STOP the debt in 2019 centrelink is still deducting monies from my payment. When you phone them after waiting 50 minutes nobody wants to talk about the robo debt, but the deductions are still coming out.

 

[Judy HB]

Despite the abolishment of the notorious robo debt Mr Morrison should be held accountable for all this as he was our prime minister and he was the one that would have given the ok to be set up at the time of the robo debt happening soo there for i feel that mr Morrison should repay every cent that he recovered from his victims and it should be given back to the people that has suffered under neath his hands with interest,Morrison has caused a lot of heart aches and trauma exspecially to the families who has had a loved one suicide over this robo debt,For an instant if Center link had over payed some one they will recover the amount of money a person owes them and deduct from your pay ,so now it’s in reverse that Center link owes money to people and trying to cover it up by not paying the victims that has and still is suffering thru the robo debt scheme,It’s blindingly clear to see that Morrison knew and was aware of what exactly was going to happen and all he thought was about filling up his pockets,Shame on you Morrison,,people are still suffering whilst you and your family are enjoying holidays and not given a dam about no body,Royal Commission should hold Morrison and all others that were aware of what was going to happen accountable so there for they need to repay these people back as it’s the right thing to do,Morrison has already been exposed that he is liable for this robo debt,He is living like a king whilst others that are owed this money are living in hell not on Come on Morrison Pay Up or garnish the money he owes to all these people from his bank account and I’m sure he can afford to pay every one ,,Mr Albanese should make sure that it is going to happen and that no one is going to be left behind like he promised,Thank You

Wasn’t it Bill Shorten that came up with the scheme in the beginning?

 

[Judy HB]

I have said before that Centrelink is the most frustrating organisation to deal with! And I feel the most for families and individuals cut off from their payments having to wait weeks to get reinstated. Back pay or not you still have to feed your kids while they get their act together! Afraid the pollies have no idea what it’s like to live in the real world.

 

[Nana Zorak]

Has any of our pensioners seen a pay rise in their pensions so far this tax year? No one seems to have had a raise except my granddaughter who as a personal Carer got the lowest raise in the care industry. Artie has a new job in the care industry she recently moved out of home & is now boarding with her boyfriend away from this area so she applied for a job at a new concept in Dementia care. A village within a care centre, she was initially knocked back, Then she was called for another interview of initially 20mins stretched to 1 hour & she got the job of house companion which means she runs not only 6 residents but the cooking & cleaning as well.

 

[pbattershill]

Despite what the minister claims, robodebt mk2 is in progress. They just call them debt letters. My wife received one of these letters and it is appalling the way centrelink is dealing with this issue. The stress and strain placed on a person is just like robodebt. Yet they have uni students with hundreds of thousands of debt that will never be repaid. Double standards in government

 

[Thecheesequeen]

Has any of our pensioners seen a pay rise in their pensions so far this tax year? No one seems to have had a raise except my granddaughter who as a personal Carer got the lowest raise in the care industry. Artie has a new job in the care industry she recently moved out of home & is now boarding with her boyfriend away from this area so she applied for a job at a new concept in Dementia care. A village within a care centre, she was initially knocked back, Then she was called for another interview of initially 20mins stretched to 1 hour & she got the job of house companion which means she runs not only 6 residents but the cooking & cleaning as well.

Umm . . . aged pensioners got a pay rise in April. This tax year has only just begun.

 

[Leenie]

Wasn’t it Bill Shorten that came up with the scheme in the beginning?

Yes

 

[JayEeGeeP]

Despite the abolishment of the notorious robo debt Mr Morrison should be held accountable for all this as he was our prime minister and he was the one that would have given the ok to be set up at the time of the robo debt happening soo there for i feel that mr Morrison should repay every cent that he recovered from his victims and it should be given back to the people that has suffered under neath his hands with interest,Morrison has caused a lot of heart aches and trauma exspecially to the families who has had a loved one suicide over this robo debt,For an instant if Center link had over payed some one they will recover the amount of money a person owes them and deduct from your pay ,so now it’s in reverse that Center link owes money to people and trying to cover it up by not paying the victims that has and still is suffering thru the robo debt scheme,It’s blindingly clear to see that Morrison knew and was aware of what exactly was going to happen and all he thought was about filling up his pockets,Shame on you Morrison,,people are still suffering whilst you and your family are enjoying holidays and not given a dam about no body,Royal Commission should hold Morrison and all others that were aware of what was going to happen accountable so there for they need to repay these people back as it’s the right thing to do,Morrison has already been exposed that he is liable for this robo debt,He is living like a king whilst others that are owed this money are living in hell not on Come on Morrison Pay Up or garnish the money he owes to all these people from his bank account and I’m sure he can afford to pay every one ,,Mr Albanese should make sure that it is going to happen and that no one is going to be left behind like he promised,Thank You

Besides the bureaucracy all of the Centrelink staff right to the bottom would have known it was wrong but the lower levels would not have been able to do anything about it. The Robodebt wasn't the only dishonest thing they did, there were other areas where people were cheated out of their entitlements.

 

[Squizzy1]

Despite the abolishment of the notorious Robodebt scheme, Centrelink's debt recovery practices continue to stir distress among recipients, including pensioners, carers, and parents receiving childcare assistance.

Advocates for welfare recipients report that Centrelink's current debt recovery approach is lacking in several aspects.

Recipients often receive ‘semi-threatening’ debt notices that provide insufficient information about the calculation of the debt amount.

View attachment 25522

People who speak up for welfare recipients say that Centrelink's way of trying to collect debts is causing more stress because they send threatening letters with not enough information, just like they did during the Robodebt program. Image by Tumisu from pixabay

They claim that Centrelink's debt recovery process is still causing additional stress, reminiscent of the Robodebt scheme.

The income-averaging method used to determine debts in the scheme was heavily criticised during the recent royal commission, which referred to it as an ‘extraordinary saga’ marked by ‘venality, incompetence, and cowardice’.

Although the Robodebt program was terminated in 2019, advocates for welfare recipients strongly emphasise the need for improvements to Centrelink's current processes.

The Welfare Rights Centre's Chief Executive Officer, Katherine Boyle, announced on ABC Radio Sydney that while there had been improvements, the current approach still feels eerily familiar.

'Robodebt is dead, but people feel like they have a Robodebt. That feeling of being chased, persecuted, and confused—that hasn't actually changed.' said Ms Boyle.

Here's an example of how these issues can feel like a frustrating puzzle.

Meredith Davies' husband is a recipient of a disability support pension.

About a year ago, the couple received a letter stating he had an overpayment of over $600, which would be deducted from future payments.

However, even after twelve months and several phone calls, including seeking help from their local federal MP's office, they still haven't received any further information.

Ms Davies said, ‘If they can't give you a good reason for the overpayment, they shouldn't be asking for it.’

Likewise, an 88-year-old carer of a Parkinson's patient was nearly stripped of his carer allowance because of a failure to communicate clearly with Centrelink about his wife's hospitalisation dates.

View attachment 25523

It is essential that Centrelink not only makes changes to its debt letters but also takes concrete steps to rebuild trust and ensure that vulnerable citizens are served with the dignity and respect they deserve. Image from shutterstock

These are just two of many frustrating stories we’ve heard of good people mismanaged by the system they rely on most.

And, with 1.6 million debts raised in 2021-2022 by Services Australia, there are be countless stories like these.

In response to these struggles, Centrelink promises changes to its debt letters, including providing more detailed insights regarding the origin of these debts.

A spokesperson stated, ‘We're making further changes to include more detailed information on how a debt occurred…We're sorry to hear people are having trouble reaching us.’

But will the changes go far enough for those that depend on these services?

Ms Boyle certainly has her doubts. She states, 'The problems are so systemic, so deep, so long term that it's going to take a while to fix Centrelink, so it's actually serving the people as it should.'

Key Takeaways

• Welfare recipients are reportedly still experiencing stress and confusion due to Centrelink's debt recovery processes, even after the controversial 'Robodebt' scheme was dumped.
• There have been complaints that debt notices do not provide enough information about how the owed sums were calculated and use 'semi-threatening' language.
• Some improvements have been made, according to Welfare Rights Centre CEO Katherine Boyle, but there are continuing issues with the way Centrelink pursues debts.
• Services Australia is reportedly making changes to improve debt letters, aiming to provide more detailed information on how a debt occurred.

So, even though Robodebt may be gone, it’s clear there’s still much work to do.

We would love to hear your opinions on the story shared above. What improvements do you think are necessary to alleviate stress and confusion for the recipients? Feel free to share your thoughts!

 

[Sloopy]

Wasn’t it Bill Shorten that came up with the scheme in the beginning?

No, it was Morrison

 

[Sloopy]

Yes

No, Morrison

 

[Mark1]

Despite the abolishment of the notorious robo debt Mr Morrison should be held accountable for all this as he was our prime minister and he was the one that would have given the ok to be set up at the time of the robo debt happening soo there for i feel that mr Morrison should repay every cent that he recovered from his victims and it should be given back to the people that has suffered under neath his hands with interest,Morrison has caused a lot of heart aches and trauma exspecially to the families who has had a loved one suicide over this robo debt,For an instant if Center link had over payed some one they will recover the amount of money a person owes them and deduct from your pay ,so now it’s in reverse that Center link owes money to people and trying to cover it up by not paying the victims that has and still is suffering thru the robo debt scheme,It’s blindingly clear to see that Morrison knew and was aware of what exactly was going to happen and all he thought was about filling up his pockets,Shame on you Morrison,,people are still suffering whilst you and your family are enjoying holidays and not given a dam about no body,Royal Commission should hold Morrison and all others that were aware of what was going to happen accountable so there for they need to repay these people back as it’s the right thing to do,Morrison has already been exposed that he is liable for this robo debt,He is living like a king whilst others that are owed this money are living in hell not on Come on Morrison Pay Up or garnish the money he owes to all these people from his bank account and I’m sure he can afford to pay every one ,,Mr Albanese should make sure that it is going to happen and that no one is going to be left behind like he promised,Thank You

Scott Morrison has not been there for some time. If Labor were so keen on changing it, they would have done by now. Stop blaming others.

 

[Mark1]

Wasn’t it Bill Shorten that came up with the scheme in the beginning?

Yes it was.

 

[Sloopy]

Yes it was.

No

 

[Milica]

If it were me, I would get a pro bono lawyer to write a letter advising you will not be paying until they a human being , and not a computer explained in detail sxactly how the debt occurred and was calculated.

I would also advise they can take me to court if they wish.

Put the onus on them to prove their case.

I agree - facts & evidence, they are the items that work in a court of law - any business could send anyone a debt letter asking for payment of a debt? but if it is not stated clearly when it happened, how it happened, and in these cases if there where legitimate overpayments with proof of this - why would anyone be paying it - Robots of the Robodebt - why don't you all send yourselves a debt letter! so you know what it feels like or maybe you wouldn't - do Robots have feelings?:_)