Thread: OMG Centrelink are slow

Yep once only though for a couple of months. Went in and they said we would have to wait 16 weeks. To which we said we had already waited the 16 weeks before even applying. They then said it would be a month. OK so enough of the islanders and indigenous walking in while we were there and getting payments immediately (this was Darwin) without question. So I fired up and just stated we are destitute and you need to organize a payment now. I did know the context at the time, initially the guy refused until I quoted the passage relevant (given to me by one of the indigenous fellas outside). I can not remember it know but did know it at the time.
Not meant as racist at all, but it did pee me off at the time that I had worked for 7 years straight (only 23 at the time) paying tax and was initially refused when others who had never worked were walking in and getting cash payments without any question or identification. Have not claimed the dole at all since in 28 years. Should be fair for all.
I know one friend recently had a stroke and can not work her job. Centerlink have deemed she is not eligible for any assistance. She has no savings.

Originally Posted by CraigE

... Should be fair for all.
I know one friend recently had a stroke and can not work her job. Centerlink have deemed she is not eligible for any assistance. She has no savings.

It is why there are so many old people out there who are asset rich but cash poor. Their assets are means tested so they are ineligible for the aged pension, but they cant eat the dirt on their asset but Centrelink wants them to sell it and pay rent before they can get assistance.

It is why the spivs are getting rich on reverse mortgages. (But don't they bleat when the oldies don't die as expected.)

if they sell would they not still be ineligible as they still have to much liquid assests

The people who sell there house and have liquid assets are entitled to a pension..

There is ways around the asset test.

What you do is sell your home.

Take the cash and put it into a Annuity fund. (Low risk, reasonable Interest)

You then draw a weekly income from the Annuity below the pension cut off.

Pay stuff all tax on interest earned.

Get Full or Part pension and entitlements. Travel around oz.

Watch all us poor buggers work a million hrs a week just to support them.

Simple hey

Originally Posted by schmierer LR at singleton

i have put in an application over a month ago now and they still have not processed it yet, i am glad i am not in a hurry for money
has anyone else dealt with centrelink? if so how long did it take for your claim to be processed?

I'm glad as well you don't really need it in a hurry..... as I'm sure the staff at Centrelink are also pleased to hear this.

And I could imagine that the manager of Centrelink at Singleton or wherever could be wondering why a young man who lived in a locality with plentiful employment and who had the wherewithal for extensive travel had a need for income support at all ......

There are people who actually need income support ....

Perhaps Centrelink is just taking all this into account ? ...

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

It is why there are so many old people out there who are asset rich but cash poor. Their assets are means tested so they are ineligible for the aged pension, but they cant eat the dirt on their asset but Centrelink wants them to sell it and pay rent before they can get assistance.

It is why the spivs are getting rich on reverse mortgages. (But don't they bleat when the oldies don't die as expected.)

Diana, the whole idea of the assets test when it was introduced was for people to use their own means of support before looking to the Commonwealth. Legally the Commonwealth is the payer of last resort and people are expected to use their own resources. What had been happening before when only an income test applied was a growing number of people who had assets in non-income earning areas such as cheque accounts, unoccupied property, bullion etc. These numbers were expected to grow rapidly as almost all workers now had superannuation funds. Many people had a mind set about getting a pension to the stupid point of having large sums in non-income producing areas that would have produced far more than the pension. "I have paid taxes all my life. I am entitled to a pension and I am going to get one" was the common cry. I personally interviewed pension applicants who had $300,000 and more in cheque accounts. Lot of money in 1990. At the prevailing interest rate these sums would have produced $40,000-$50,000 per annum. Far more than the miserable age pension. Your taxes are not put in a piggy bank to be returned to you. They are used to run the country.

The preamble to the Act granting the first age pension about 1910 stated that the payment was for people who through illness or misfortune were unable to fully provide for themselves in old age. Note the words "unable to FULLY provide". Clearly the intent of parliament was that the pension was intended as a supplement to the pensioner's own resources.

Schmierer of Singleton. What sort of payment have you applied for? The most common reason for delays in grants are that Centrelink is waiting for more information that the client has not yet provided. Go to your Regional Office and ask to see an assessor who can explain the delay to you. Centrelink are trying to keep people out of the offices except by appointment.
The greeter will try to point you at one of the 'phones to call a Teleservice centre. Tell her you were on hold for almost two hours, hung up, and came into the office to yell at someone but you won't yell if someone can explain the delay to you.

Originally Posted by bussy1963

The people who sell there house and have liquid assets are entitled to a pension..

There is ways around the asset test.

What you do is sell your home.

Take the cash and put it into a Annuity fund. (Low risk, reasonable Interest)

You then draw a weekly income from the Annuity below the pension cut off.

Pay stuff all tax on interest earned.

Get Full or Part pension and entitlements. Travel around oz.

Watch all us poor buggers work a million hrs a week just to support them.

Simple hey

Your principal residence is exempt from the assets test. No need to sell your home unless you wish to become a grey nomad with no fixed place of abode, or you are happy to move into a caravan park.

A principal residence on more than 2 hectares needs to be valued under the assets test as the area not used for domestic purposes is classed as an asset. The area used for domestic purposes, known as the curtilage, can be a maximum of two hectares. Solution- sell the excess if you can or sell the whole property, move to somewhere smaller and use the surplus funds in an annuity or allocated pension, or spend it on beer, girls, and sports cars if so inclined

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Diana, the whole idea of the assets test when it was introduced was for people to use their own means of support before looking to the Commonwealth. Legally the Commonwealth is the payer of last resort and people are expected to use their own resources. ...

Brian

I understand what you are saying, however there are many people who have property assets that are not producing an income or interest, are not bullion and yet can neither be sold (prevaling market or subdivision rules) nor modified to produce a sustaining income. These assets also often produce expences like local rates and taxes.

As far as I understand, for rural property the land value of property outside the house paddock, excluding the house are assessed as assets while house is not. The couple of neddies agisted on the property do not produce an income sufficient to live off.