404:
for reconciling welfare recipients' records against data from the
Australian Taxation Office. In a process that had previously seen 20,000 debt recovery letters issued per year, this new automated data-matching technique, with less human oversight, saw that number increase to 169,000 letters during July-Dec 2016. Opponents of the automated process—known colloquially as 'robo-debt'—say that errors in the system have led to welfare recipients paying nonexistent debts or debts that are larger than what they actually owe. Some welfare recipients have been required to make payments while contesting their debts.
916:
52:
43:
741:
715:
403:
These rates can change based on cost-of-living adjustments and government policies, so it's always good to check the latest information on the official
Centrelink website or speak with a Centrelink representative for more personalized details. In 2016, Centrelink began using a new automated technique
425:
Appearing before the Senate committee inquiry, the department was asked how many people had become deceased after receiving a letter under the debt recovery program. After the question was taken on notice, the department was asked again in a subsequent inquiry hearing, and it was again taken on
303:
The amount of financial assistance provided by
Centrelink varies based on the specific payment type, individual circumstances, and eligibility criteria. Here's a general overview of some of the main payments (as of 2024), but the actual amount can depend on factors like income, assets, age, and
200:
411:
requests that
Australians retain their documentation. The onus was moved from Centrelink needing to verify the information, to being on the individual to prove they did not owe the funds, with human interaction being very limited in the dispatch of the debt letters.
368:- **Family Tax Benefit Part A**: Up to $ 223.60 per fortnight per child (depends on family income and number of children). - **Family Tax Benefit Part B**: Up to $ 177.20 per fortnight (depends on the age of the youngest child and income).
352:- **Single, under 18, living at home**: Around $ 319.80 per fortnight. - **Single, over 18, living away from home**: Around $ 562.80 per fortnight. - **Couple, no children**: Around $ 521.20 per fortnight each.
459:
announced that the 'robo-debt' debt recovery scheme was to be scrapped by the
Government, with 470,000 wrongly issued debts to be repaid in full. The total sum of the repayments is estimated to be
415:
The process, however, was touted to save the government $ 300m, and as such was considered for recovery action against the Aged
Pension and Disability Support Pension, which could have recovered
231:, students, apprentices and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and provides services at times of major change. The majority of Centrelink's services are the disbursement of
320:- **Single, no children**: Around $ 749.20 per fortnight. - **Single, with a dependent child**: Around $ 802.50 per fortnight. - **Partnered**: Around $ 686.00 per fortnight (each partner).
532:
436:
The calculations used to estimate debt are being legally challenged by Legal Aid
Victoria, who say that they assume that people are working regular, full-time hours when calculating income.
820:
941:
251:, the Centrelink brand name came into effect in late 1997. Offices were established nationally to manage services to people in need of social security payments.
794:
549:
247:
of the
Department of Social Security under the trading name of the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency in early 1997. Following the passage of the
574:
278:
Another company awarded a call centre operating contract by
Centrelink is Stellar, a subsidiary of the Nevada-registered U.S. company Stellar LLC.
589:
664:
635:
467:
criticised the
Government's lack of apology for the scheme, citing the psychological harm to many of those issued with debt recovery notices.
609:
853:
936:
689:
540:
286:
879:
951:
767:
456:
141:
665:"Centrelink's controversial data matching program to target pensioners and disabled, Labor calls for suspension"
430:
946:
956:
400:- **Single**: Around $ 1,064.00 per fortnight. - **Couple (combined)**: Around $ 1,604.00 per fortnight.
384:- **Single**: Around $ 1,064.00 per fortnight. - **Couple (combined)**: Around $ 1,604.00 per fortnight.
336:- **Single**: Around $ 1,064.00 per fortnight. - **Couple (combined)**: Around $ 1,604.00 per fortnight.
27:
476:
921:
408:
167:
961:
545:
821:"Robodebt class action: Shorten unveils 'David and Goliath' legal battle into Centrelink scheme"
228:
909:
220:
636:"Centrelink debt recovery system failures have 'frightened' recipients, Andrew Wilkie says"
264:(Cth), with the department retaining the brand name as part of its set of master programs.
8:
282:
915:
610:"Centrelink debt recovery: Government knew of potential problems with automated program"
854:"Government to pay back $ 721m as it scraps Robodebt for Centrelink welfare recipients"
590:
Australian Taxation Office contractor has history of bankruptcy and links to tax havens
260:
255:
216:
154:
275:, was one of the companies awarded a contract to operate call centres for Centrelink.
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244:
514:
392:
6. **Carer Payment** (for people caring for someone with a disability or illness)
298:
232:
61:
51:
930:
832:
452:
181:
575:
Centrelink contractor Concentrix wrongly cut thousands off welfare in the UK
500:
223:. It delivers a range of government payments and services for retirees, the
464:
440:
224:
137:
795:"Robodebt faces landmark legal challenge over 'crude' income calculations"
376:
5. **Disability Support Pension** (for people with a long-term disability)
258:, was integrated into the Department of Human Services as a result of the
481:
57:
19:
Not to be confused with the American LGBT community centre organisation,
42:
268:
20:
439:
In September 2019, Gordon Legal announced their intention of filing a
344:
3. **Youth Allowance** (for students or young people looking for work)
116:
690:"Centrelink debt recovery program to face Senate committee grilling"
433:
indicated that the data matching scheme would be expanded further.
407:
In some cases, the debts being pursued dated back further than the
312:
1. **JobSeeker Payment** (for those unemployed or looking for work)
199:
443:
suit challenging the legal foundations of the 'robo-debt' system.
272:
768:"Find out if you're a winner or a loser in this year's budget"
26:
For Centrelink payments or social security in Australia, see
16:
Federal social security program of the Australian Government
422:
The program was the subject of a Senate committee inquiry.
271:, a business services company and subsidiary of U.S.-based
285:
in May 2019, the Department of Human Services was renamed
227:, families, carers, parents, people with disabilities,
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4. **Family Tax Benefit** (for families with children)
292:
942:
Defunct Commonwealth Government agencies of Australia
880:"Bill Shorten says 'Robodebt' scheme was illegal"
328:2. **Age Pension** (for people of retirement age)
928:
872:
792:
658:
656:
595:, 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
846:
463:. Opposition Government Services spokesperson
249:Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency Act 1997
580:, 6 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
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603:
601:
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254:On 1 July 2011, Centrelink, together with
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793:Henriques-Gomes, Luke (5 February 2019).
238:
742:"Community Affairs References Committee"
716:"Community Affairs References Committee"
633:
598:
198:
819:Murphy, Katharine (17 September 2019).
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818:
634:Anderson, Stephanie (5 January 2017).
662:
607:
533:"Portfolio Budget Statements 2013-14"
97:Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency
922:Human Services (Centrelink) Act 1997
243:Centrelink commenced initially as a
168:Human Services (Centrelink) Act 1997
884:Australian Broadcasting Corporation
858:Australian Broadcasting Corporation
293:Automated debt recovery controversy
13:
14:
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281:Following the re-election of the
937:1997 establishments in Australia
663:Belot, Henry (17 January 2017).
608:Belot, Henry (12 January 2017).
457:Minister for Government Services
142:Minister for Government Services
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722:. 21 April 2017. pp. 11–12
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431:2018 Australian federal budget
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541:Department of Human Services
477:Social security in Australia
211:, or more commonly known as
28:Social security in Australia
7:
470:
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283:Morrison Federal government
78:; 27 years ago
10:
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952:Public policy in Australia
548:. May 2013. Archived from
409:Australian Taxation Office
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203:Centrelink logo until 2012
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748:. 18 May 2017. p. 47
546:Commonwealth of Australia
209:Centrelink Master Program
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261:Human Services Act, 2011
746:Parliament of Australia
720:Parliament of Australia
239:History and operations
229:Indigenous Australians
219:master program of the
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304:relationship status:
221:Australian Government
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56:Centrelink office in
947:Welfare in Australia
131:Minister responsible
957:Government programs
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555:on 29 October 2013
519:Services Australia
287:Services Australia
273:SYNNEX Corporation
256:Medicare Australia
217:Services Australia
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155:Services Australia
126:Giving You Options
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245:government agency
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182:servicesaustralia
151:Parent department
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299:Robodebt scheme
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68:Agency overview
62:New South Wales
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696:. 8 March 2017
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886:. 29 May 2020
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860:. 29 May 2020
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888:. Retrieved
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862:. Retrieved
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848:
836:. Retrieved
825:The Guardian
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814:
802:. Retrieved
799:The Guardian
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788:
776:. Retrieved
774:. 8 May 2018
771:
762:
750:. Retrieved
745:
736:
724:. Retrieved
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698:. Retrieved
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672:. Retrieved
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643:. Retrieved
639:
629:
617:. Retrieved
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592:
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557:. Retrieved
550:the original
539:
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518:
515:"Centrelink"
509:
495:
465:Bill Shorten
450:
441:class-action
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428:
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417:A$ 1 billion
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208:
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161:Key document
138:Bill Shorten
113:Jurisdiction
32:
482:Job Network
188:/centrelink
58:Wagga Wagga
931:Categories
838:22 October
804:6 February
674:19 January
645:18 January
619:18 January
559:27 October
488:References
269:Concentrix
235:payments.
225:unemployed
213:Centrelink
36:Centrelink
21:CenterLink
833:0261-3077
752:14 August
726:14 August
565:p. 3
267:In 2016,
117:Australia
772:ABC News
694:ABC News
669:ABC News
640:ABC News
614:ABC News
593:ABC News
578:ABC News
471:See also
447:Scrapped
426:notice.
215:, is a
177:Website
108:Program
81: (
890:29 May
864:29 May
831:
700:21 May
73:Formed
778:8 May
553:(PDF)
536:(PDF)
123:Motto
892:2020
866:2020
840:2019
829:ISSN
806:2019
780:2018
754:2017
728:2017
702:2017
676:2017
647:2017
621:2017
561:2013
429:The
207:The
184:.gov
105:Type
83:1997
76:1997
186:.au
933::
882:.
856:.
827:.
823:.
797:.
770:.
744:.
718:.
692:.
667:.
655:^
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85:)
30:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
