Centrelink wrongly accuses single mother, tribunal orders to repay

The Australian Government Department of Human Services, Centrelink had wrongly accused a single mother with $50,000 welfare debt. The woman, whose identity was not published is an alleged domestic violence victim and has been locked in a one-year battle with Centrelink as she was accused by the agency of falsely claiming the single parenting payment while in a relationship over a five-year period. However, in a decision released earlier this month, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal overturned the ruling and wiped the $50,000 debt. 

According to the Centrelink rules, single parents were entitled to about $280-a-week in extra parenting payments than those in a declared couple. The tribunal was reportedly told that the woman was hit with the $50,000 debt in August last year as the agency said she was in a couple with a former friend who was also the father of two of her youngest children. The welfare recipients, however, are now asked to have a 'referee' vouch for their relationship status which is in process labelled as 'intrusive' as according to the agency investigated the alleged breaches of the so-called 'couple-rule'. 

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'Detailed and credible'

The Centrelink's lawyer has also produced documents that showed that the man the single mother was living with was listed on her rental agreement, while the same address appeared on his tax return and other forms. However, the mother claims that they both had never been in a relationship although they are good friends. The father of two reportedly told the tribunal that he had been homeless during the period the agency claimed he was in a relationship with the woman. He further also added that his name was listed on the tenancy agreement for mailing purposes because he had no fixed address. The mother also noted that she shares no assets such as a bank account and that the man had not provided support for her on her children. 

After hearing both the sides, the tribunal member Louise Bygrave said that the woman's account was detailed and credible. She further added that there was no objective evidence to indicate that the applicant and the man have any current or future commitment to each other. The decision by the tribunal came with a renewed spotlight on the couple's rule as well. The tribunal member Bygrave had ordered Centrelink to repay any money it had recovered for the debt. 

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