Centrelink sorry for computer glitch that affected 73,000 families

CENTRELINK has apologised for a computer glitch over the New Year period that affected more than 70,000 families who thought they were in debt.

Generic photographs of people entering the Centrelink building in Bankstown NSW Australia (following a fire drill).

CENTRELINK has apologised for a computer glitch over the New Year period that affected more than 70,000 families who thought they were in debt.

The glitch left thousands of Centrelink customers thinking they were suddenly in debt in their accounts online or on the Express Plus App, that customers use to access their accounts by smartphone.

Department of Human Services General Manager Hank Jongen confirmed a total of 73,000 Family Tax Benefit customers were affected.

“We are aware a small proportion of Family Tax Benefit customers, 73,000 or less than five per cent of total FTB customers, temporarily had an incorrect debt displaying in their online accounts or the Express Plus app,” he said.

One mother of two, Stacie Mitchell, told 7 News that she was mistakenly charged $726.35.

“I was angry, really angry, I showed my partner and he’s like that is disgusting,” she told 7 News.

Centrelink Computer Glitch

Centrelink Glitch: Tens of thousands of families told they were in debt due to a system error.http://7news.com.au#7News #Centrelink

Posted by 7 News Queensland on Thursday, January 7, 2016

Mr Jongen said the error had been fixed, and no Centrelink customer would be out of pocket.

“This incorrect debt display has now been fixed and is no longer showing in customer’s accounts

We apologise for any inconvenience and can reassure this did not have any financial impact on customers,” he said.

The technical glitch comes after a report from the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s annual report last year found they received more complaints about Centrelink than any other Commonwealth program or agency.

Of 28,154 complaints received by the Commonwealth Ombudsman in 2014-15, 6280 related to Centrelink, an increase of 26.5 per cent.

The complaints were largely tied to the size and complexity of Centrelink’s responsibilities, which in 2013-14 involved payment of $159.2 billion in social services benefits.