Australian Politics Forum - Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink

Bobby.

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Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink
Reply #90 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 11:20am

Bam wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 10:02am:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 9:49am:

Bam wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 9:42am:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 8:56am:

Centerlink was almost impossible to contact over the phone - a one hour wait was normal with poor advice
that was always different to other Centerlink "advice" & wrong.
The people who work there don't even know the rules themselves.

Centerlink sucks.

Have you had a look at the rules? You need a law degree to understand them all. Multiple Acts of Parliament, each running to many hundreds of sections and heavily modified. Very complex legislation makes for very complex rules. I am not surprised that they have difficulty.

If the legislation was simplified, the rules would be easier to follow for everyone. We can start by abolishing numerous petty reasons to cut payments. There's no need for the constant cattle prod treatment.

I never had access to the rules.

The legislation is available online. You can even take a look if you have a sense of morbid curiosity. Just the thing to do on Halloween.

Quote:

It seemed to me that they made them up.

Ask 5 different Centerlink people &
you'll get 5 different answers.

That's not unusual. But I maintain that it's not the staff's fault that the rules are so complex they have difficulty with them.

Quote:

In my case I had a redundancy pay out which
also consisted of Long Service leave & holiday pay.

When they saw that I had a lot of money they didn't want to know me.

Yes, they expected you to use up your leave entitlements first. You would have been eligible for payment after the leave was used up.

That rule has been around for decades.

I agree though that they should have been more helpful.

Quote:

They did however what to know the guy with tattoos all over his face -
they couldn't do enough to help him.

Best not to judge others by appearance. That doesn't mean you weren't correct in your assessment, but you don't actually know for sure.

Too many people are too quick to judge others on insufficient information. That's why anyone out of work for six months finds it very difficult to get work. Employers just assume they are unemployable without even calling them in for an interview. It's crazy.

You found work though, good on you. Not everyone who is retrenched is so fortunate.

Thanks.

Why can't the Govt. just be honest?

Just tell people on TV -

if you lose your job & you have money
you won't get any help from Centerlink.

It doesn't matter how much taxes you've paid or how unfair it is.

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Bobby.

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Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink
Reply #91 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 11:21am

John Smith wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 10:58am:

if everyone wants to be technical, neither Bobby nor the company paid the GST, they are merely the tax collectors ...

the CUSTOMERS paid the GST

The Govt. still drains the money out of my hard work.

It's money I can't get -

& it's money that they won't give back if I ever lose MY JOB.

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Bobby. Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 106960 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink Reply #92 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 11:21am It's 2015 & still the forum can't get pages to flip.
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Bobby. Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 106960 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink Reply #93 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 11:23am I know a bloke who had a heart attack - then a quadruple bypass - & he couldn't get the DSP or one cent out of Centerlink. Why? - because he has savings in the Bank from all his hard work that had caused the heart attack.
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lee

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Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink
Reply #94 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 11:25am

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 6:02am:

Centrelink will always calculate your interest on the ACTUAL rate that is applied by the bank.

Nope-

'Deeming is used to calculate income for assessment of your payment.

From 1 July 2015:

if you're single and receive an income support payment, the first $48,600 of your financial investments is deemed to earn income at 1.75% per annum and any amount over that is deemed to earn income at 3.25% per annum
if you're a member of a couple and at least one of you receive a pension, the first $80,600 of your and your partner's combined financial investments are deemed to earn income at 1.75% per annum and any amount over that is deemed to earn income at 3.25% per annum, or
if you're a member of a couple and neither of you receive a pension, the first $40,300 for each of your own and your share of jointly owned financial investments are deemed to earn income at 1.75% per annum and any amount over that is deemed to earn income at 3.25% per annum

If you earn more than the deemed rates

If your investment return is higher than the deemed income we calculate, the extra income doesn't count towards your assessable income for your income support payment.'

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/deeming

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Bobby.

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Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink
Reply #95 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 12:01pm

Just added a poll:

Should a heart attack + a quadruple bypass = the DSP?

The DSP is the Disability Support Pension.

It is paid to some people who can't work for medical reasons.

Quote:

I know a bloke who had a heart attack - then a quadruple bypass -

& he couldn't get the DSP or one cent out of Centerlink.

Why? - because he has savings in the Bank from all his hard work that had caused the heart attack.

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Bobby. Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 106960 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink Reply #96 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 1:17pm By the way - the guy in question went to a lawyer - there was nothing the lawyer could do - social security is means tested & that's the law. If he would have pissed his money up against the wall - getting drunk every night & spent the rest down the pokies then he would have been helped - go figure?
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Bobby. Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 106960 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink Reply #97 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 2:01pm Only 2 votes? Why aren't more angry people voting?
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Ex Dame Pansi

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Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink
Reply #98 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 2:22pm

lee wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 11:25am:

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 6:02am:

Centrelink will always calculate your interest on the ACTUAL rate that is applied by the bank.

Nope-

'Deeming is used to calculate income for assessment of your payment.

From 1 July 2015:

if you're single and receive an income support payment, the first $48,600 of your financial investments is deemed to earn income at 1.75% per annum and any amount over that is deemed to earn income at 3.25% per annum
if you're a member of a couple and at least one of you receive a pension, the first $80,600 of your and your partner's combined financial investments are deemed to earn income at 1.75% per annum and any amount over that is deemed to earn income at 3.25% per annum, or
if you're a member of a couple and neither of you receive a pension, the first $40,300 for each of your own and your share of jointly owned financial investments are deemed to earn income at 1.75% per annum and any amount over that is deemed to earn income at 3.25% per annum

If you earn more than the deemed rates

If your investment return is higher than the deemed income we calculate, the extra income doesn't count towards your assessable income for your income support payment.'

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/deeming

My apologies maria, you were right, it changed this year, apparently. Kiss

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"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Hendrix
andrei said: Great isn't it? Seeing boatloads of what is nothing more than human garbage turn up.....

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Ex Dame Pansi

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Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink
Reply #99 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 2:26pm

Bobby. wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 11:21am:

John Smith wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 10:58am:

if everyone wants to be technical, neither Bobby nor the company paid the GST, they are merely the tax collectors ...

the CUSTOMERS paid the GST

The Govt. still drains the money out of my hard work.

It's money I can't get -

& it's money that they won't give back if I ever lose MY JOB.

If you didn't have any savings in the bank, you would.

See what I mean?

Store your money in the bank and you attract trouble for yourself.

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"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Hendrix
andrei said: Great isn't it? Seeing boatloads of what is nothing more than human garbage turn up.....

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Bam

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Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink
Reply #100 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 2:53pm

lee wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 11:25am:

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 6:02am:

Centrelink will always calculate your interest on the ACTUAL rate that is applied by the bank.

Nope-

'Deeming is used to calculate income for assessment of your payment.

From 1 July 2015:

if you're single and receive an income support payment, the first $48,600 of your financial investments is deemed to earn income at 1.75% per annum and any amount over that is deemed to earn income at 3.25% per annum
if you're a member of a couple and at least one of you receive a pension, the first $80,600 of your and your partner's combined financial investments are deemed to earn income at 1.75% per annum and any amount over that is deemed to earn income at 3.25% per annum, or
if you're a member of a couple and neither of you receive a pension, the first $40,300 for each of your own and your share of jointly owned financial investments are deemed to earn income at 1.75% per annum and any amount over that is deemed to earn income at 3.25% per annum

If you earn more than the deemed rates

If your investment return is higher than the deemed income we calculate, the extra income doesn't count towards your assessable income for your income support payment.'

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/deeming

Did you notice how the website said nothing about what happens if you earn less than the deemed rates?

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You are not entitled to your opinion. You are only entitled to hold opinions that you can defend through sound, reasoned argument.

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lee Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 18012 Gender:	Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink Reply #101 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 3:04pm Bam wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 2:53pm: Did you notice how the website said nothing about what happens if you earn less than the deemed rates? You're DEEMED to earn that amount as specified 1.75% etc. That's what stops you lending money to your kids at no interest.
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lee Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 18012 Gender:	Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink Reply #102 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 3:10pm Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 2:22pm: it changed this year, apparently Nope- it has been in since at least 1997 'Historical Rates & Thresholds' http://www.ratesmate.com.au/GovernmentBenefits/AgePension-TaxPackQ6/DeemingRates...
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mariacostel

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Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink
Reply #103 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 4:02pm

Bobby. wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 10:50am:

mariacostel wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 10:42am:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 10:27am:

John Smith wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 10:15am:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 31^st, 2015 at 10:14am:

I felt entitled to something.

you felt entitled? were you a politician?

When I was working for that last company -
in the final week I completed a job which went out the door
that was worth $150,000.

The Govt. got $15,000 GST as a result of my - actually 2 weeks work.

I estimated that I had created millions of dollars in GST for the Govt. over my time with that company -
yet they don't take that into account when you go to Centerlink.

It's not fair - they want to take money
but they don't want to give it back.

That's not how it works and nor should it. YOU didnt make that GST. Your company did.

Dear Longy,
If I would not have done the work & therefore
not got the job ready to ship out
the Govt. would not have got their GST.

That's the way it works.

If you want Centerlink money -

get tattoos all over your face -
make sure you have no money in the bank -
don't have a shower for one week -

then they will hand over your money - it's that simple.

Maybe that will help some people to get money out of them?

Then why did you work in a company if you can do it all yourself? Treat getting sacked as a bonus since now you can do all that work on your own and get paid the $150K without having to share it with the company!

And we all know why that doesn't work, don't we?

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Jovial Monk Gold Member Offline Dogs not cats! Posts: 47794 Gender:	Re: Tens Of Thousands Angry About Centrelink Reply #104 - Oct 31^st, 2015 at 4:06pm Scoot will now come in and say all you need is a positive outlook or some such tripe.
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Poll
Question: Should a heart attack + a quadruple bypass = the DSP?
Yes 9 (81.8%) No 2 (18.2%) not sure 0 (0.0%) Total votes: 11 « Created by: Bobby. on: Oct 31^st, 2015 at 12:01pm »