Centrelink and Clients

 Member of National Welfare Rights Network  Community Legal Centre  Provide free, independent and confidential legal advice in relation to Centrelink matters.

Provide advice and information on Centrelink payments Mediate with Centrelink Assist clients to obtain relevant documentation Advocate for clients at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal

 Many different types of payments:  Disability Support Pension  Newstart Allowance  Age Pension  Family Tax Benefit  Youth Allowance etc.

 Rejections of payment – how they occur  Lack of evidence  Not eligible  Did not apply in time  Incorrectly assessed by Centrelink  Centrelink jargon

 Debts – how they occur  Generally from an overpayment due to :  Did not inform Centrelink of changes  Incorrectly assessed  Member of a couple  Joint custody  Incorrectly reported earnings ie Net not Gross

 Need to start repayments if possible  Minimum repayments  Garnishee orders  Temporary write offs

 Have all your client’s details ready for us – name, customer reference number (CRN) and a contact phone number.  Have as much information about the problem– what payment, payslips, any evidence etc.

What we can do to assist:  Contact Centrelink if needed  Legal advice  Information on appeals process  Advocate at Tribunals  Refer to other services

 Assist at Federal Court  Prosecutions  Advocate in shared care issues (FTB)  Assist with applications (fill in forms)  Tell someone what to say to get a payment

 1 July 2015 Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) became the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Social Services and Child Support Division)  Phone:   Web:

 Within Centrelink  Back to Original Decision Maker (ODM)  To Authorised Review Officer (ARO)  Not all decisions can be appealed past ARO ABStudy and Isolated Children are examples  Outside Centrelink  Administrative Appeals Tribunal (SS&CSD)  Administrative Appeals Tribunal (General Division)  Federal Court

 Free legal advice to homeless, at risk of homelessness or low income earners.  Lawyers can advise, refer or occasionally act for clients.  7 clinics currently throughout the city and suburbs.

 City – Level 5, 97 Pirie Street  Phone: or (Rural only)  Outreaches: Port Adelaide – UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide 58 Dale Street, Port Adelaide Marion Road– UnitingCare Wesley Bowden, Inner Southern Homlessness Service 730 Marion Road, Marion Beulah Park – Uniting Communities Eastern Services Corner of Portrush Road and the Parade, Beulah Park By appointment at other services

  Nick Hoogland –  General –  Phone  or  Fax 