Centrelink’s welfare battle with 102yo woman

COURTNEY GOULD


CENTRELINK has come under fire for threatening to withdraw the welfare payments of a 102-year-old woman who was unable to provide proof-of-identity.

Anne Hawkins, who is bed bound, was last month suddenly ordered to provide proof of her identity to the government agency. In a letter to the Punchbowl resident, Centrelink said the documents must be provided in person. Due to Ms Hawkins’ age, she was unable to provide proof of identity beyond her Australian Citizenship certificate. When her family raised this with Centrelink, they were advised to obtain a NSW proof of age card.

Ms Hawkins’ daughter Mary Byrnes said to do so, she would “need to be taken there by ambulance and wheeled into the centre in a hospital bed”.

Ms Hawkins’ son Frank said he spent hours on the phone attempting to sort out the mess, but to no avail.

“They couldn’t really offer any alternative or options,” he said.

“It was extremely frustrating for me and my family. We protected mum from as much of the aggravation as possible. Telling her was worst case scenario.”

Mr Hawkins said the matter was solved following the intervention of local MP Tony Burke.

But the family said the concern still remained that the government agency was prepared to force the elderly woman to leave her household during the Sydney lockdown and risk exposure to the Delta virus.

“It is pretty unreasonable that Centrelink should be asking people to show up to a service centre in the middle of a lockdown,” Ms Byrnes said, adding it was still unclear what sparked the request.

Government Services Minister Linda Reynolds “sincerely apologised”.