Hey, can you please post this question on your wall.
Ok here goes. Have any other mums or someone you've know been to court of a Centrelink debt? (Yes please don't go on about that, it was a mistake that I didn't pick up over a few years). It's quite a large about so I'm more wondering anyone else's situation and how they went? I'm a single mum of a 6 year old so I'm worried that I will be sent to jail. My daughter doesn't know her father & has minimal family around. How do I prepare myself & her for the fact I could be sent away? Do I tell her? Or do I make up a lie? How can I help the situation and pray I don't be sent away? :(
5 Replies
Get legal advice, they are the only ones who can give you answers on your situation.
Chances are she will be placed in kinship care or foster care.
If incarceration is on the books and the sum is that large there isn't anything you can do. They dont charge lightly if they are they are doing so because they have evidence. Such as false statements made on forms. Its why centerlink has people complete the full form every time they makes changes unless the change is based on data matching things don't get missed because the forms are completed from scratch each time. It's not spot the difference. So they have you signing false statements multiple times.
I haven't but I would get some legal advice - having a good barrister will help you navigate the process and they can help you fight to keep you out of gaol by pushing for a community corrections order or similar punishment. Google criminal lawyers, give a few firms a call, find out who handles Centrelink issues in the firm. Normally a lawyer won't charge for a first meeting so you'll be safe to at least speak to someone.
I wouldn't say anything to your daughter unless it looks seriously like you will be going to jail. Speak with your solicitor. In the meantime, there is no point in your daughter fretting.
This is actually a difficult one. If it's going to court I imagine there may be a fraud charge. But I'm not going to assume that you deliberately mislead CL. Sometimes fraud can happen without us even realising that what we were doing was wrong. If it goes to court and you're charged with fraud ask the magistrate to suppress it from your police record. I have seen some people go to jail for fraud at only about $6000 and I've had a friend who got community service for $12000. People will tell you that you won't go to jail for small amounts but you need to prepare yourself because some magistrates will be hard and others more lenient. Just depends if they want to make an example of you.