Hunter Valley man John Dore ordered to pay back Centrelink $44K despite department error
In June, John Dore received a letter from Centrelink saying he owed them more than $44,000 because he was overpaid in rent assistance, dating back to 2003.
Newcastle
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Turbo-charged debt recovery from Centrelink has claimed yet another victim, this time ordering a Hunter Valley man to pay back thousands of dollars despite admitting it was the department which had made the error.
In June, John Dore received a letter from Centrelink saying he owed them more than $44,000 because he was overpaid in rent assistance dating back to 2003.
The 56-year-old, who has been living with a brain injury due to a major car accident in 1998, and is on the disability support pension, said he was absolutely shocked to see the amount of debt he was supposed to pay back.
This was despite Mr Dore having owned his home in Abermain since 1995 and having never actually applied for any rent assistance.
“I was like ‘s**t what are they doing to me?’” Mr Dore said.
“I rang them up and said what is this?”
But it’s not the only time he’s been at the end of an costly error made by the Department of Human Services.
Before 2003, Centrelink made their first error, which was fortunately picked up early, but still required Mr Dore to pay back hundreds of dollars in excess rent assistance that he was mistakenly paid.
“The first time I paid back rent assistance to Centrelink, that was a bad dream for me and it then happened again,” he said.
“I was paid rent assistance for the second time to live in a house that I always owned, when I never filled out an application for rental assistance.”
Centrelink documents also clearly stated ‘the debt is solely due to an error by the department’.
“It’s their mistake,” he said.
“When I paid the first one, it was proven that I wasn’t paying rent for the house and I always said I own my own house.”
Due to his brain injury, Mr Dore has trouble remembering and understanding basic details and has no immediate family or friends close by to assist him in navigating the Centrelink system.
While he admits he did receive a couple of letters on rent assistance payment, he thought it was referring to the first time there was an error.
And at just an extra $90 to $100 in his pay packet fortnightly, he didn’t take too much notice.
“The government know what they are paying people,” Mr Dore added.
“I never lodged an application for rental assistance so it didn’t set off alarm bells the second time.
“I think they may have mistaken me for another person.”
It’s a mistake the disability pensioner cannot afford to pay back.
“The only money I have in the bank is my inheritance which I need,” Mr Dore explained.
Mr Dore has taken his complaint to the Appeals Tribunal, with a hearing set down for later this month.
Shadow minister for government services, Bill Shorten said it’s the ugly face of the government’s turbocharged debt recovery let loose in communities.
“This is an outrageously harsh hounding of a brain damaged man without many resources for immediate payback of a huge sum that he never applied for or tricked anyone into paying him,” he said.
IN OTHER NEWS
In response to The Newcastle News, the Department of Human Services stated it was unable to comment on the case which is currently before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
Department of Human Services General Manager Hank Jongen said: “If a customer has difficulty dealing with us or understanding the information we provide them, they can nominate a person or organisation to deal with us on their behalf.
“This does not stop that person from dealing with us themselves and they can cancel this arrangement at any time.
“If anyone receives letters from the department, it is important they read them carefully and contact us if they are not sure about what to do.
“When people owe us money, they can speak with our dedicated team, who will then work with them to establish flexible repayment options that are best suited to their individual circumstances.”